Films of poly{pyrrole-[RuII(bpy)2Cl2]}; their transformations into films containing cis- or trans-[RuII(bpy)2(H2O)2]2+, [RuII(bpy)2(MeCN)2]2+ and [{RuIII(bpy)2(H2O)}2O]4+ complexes, application to electrocatalysis (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine)

Abstract

A ruthenium(II) bis(chloro) complex containing two 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) ligands substituted with pyrrole groups has been synthesized and anodically electropolymerized on platinum, glassy carbon or SnO₂ electrodes; [Ru^II(bpy)₂Cl₂] sites in the polymer are readily converted into other ruthenium complexes as cis- or trans-[Ru(bpy)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁺, [{Ru(bpy)₂(H₂O)}₂O]⁴⁺ and [Ru(bpy)₂(MeCN)₂]²⁺ and the capability of the polypyrrole cis-[Ru(bpy)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁺ films to act as an electrocatalyst has been tested.