Electrosynthesis of binuclear ruthenium complexes from [RuCl3(dppb)(L)] precursors [L = pyridine, 4-methylpyridine or dimethyl sulfoxide; dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane]

Abstract

Electrolysis has been examined as a method of synthesis for [(L)(dppb)Ru(μ-Cl)₃RuCl(dppb)] complexes, where dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane and L = pyridine (py), 4-methylpyridine (4-pic) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), by using [RuCl₃(dppb)(L)] as precursors. The products of the electrolysis were characterized by ³¹P-{¹H} NMR, cyclic voltammetry and near infrared spectroscopy. The presence of the [Ru₂Cl₅(dppb)₂] complex in the electrochemical cell suggests a mechanism by which the starting original species from the bulk solution reacts with the reduced form [RuCl₂(dppb)(L)] generated at the surface of the electrode. The crystal structure of the precursor mer-[RuCl₃(dppb)(4-pic)] was determined by X-ray diffraction.