Synthesis, characterisation, electrochemical properties, photochemical properties, and reactivity of bis(2,2′-bipyridyl)hydridoruthenium complexes
Abstract
Complexes [Ru(bipy)2H(L)]X (bipy = 2,2′-bipyridyl; L = CO or PPh3, X = PF6; L = AsPh3, X = ClO4) and [Ru(Me2bipy)H(CO)]PF6(Me2bipy = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridyl) have been synthesised by the reaction of the corresponding [Ru(bipy)2Cl(L)]+ complex or [Ru(Me2bipy)Cl(CO)]+ respectively with sodium tetrahydroborate in aqueous ethanol. In dilute acid [Ru(bipy)2H(CO)]+ yields [Ru(bipy)2(OH2)(CO)]2+ and hydrogen gas. [Ru(bipy)2H(CO)]+ is relatively photostable compared with [Ru(bipy)2H(PPh3)]+. The phosphine and arsine complexes show, in general, an increased reactivity compared to the carbonyl complexes.