Electrochemically generated chemiluminescence of tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(ii), tris(1,10-phenathroline)ruthenium(ii) and tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(ii) complexes

Abstract

The electrochemically generated chemiluminescence (ECL) of the title complexes with four series of electroactive organic compounds Q in 0.1 M (C₂H₅)₄NPF₆ acetonitrile solutions has been studied using a triple-potential-step technique. The yields of the formation of the excited *RuL₃²⁺ ion produced by the electron transfer reaction of RuL₃⁺ with aromatic amine or 2,3,7,8-tetramehoxythianthrene radical cations and by the reaction of RuL₃³⁺ with quinone or nitroaromatic radical anions as well as with N-methylpyridinium radicals have been determined. A reaction scheme describing generation of the excited *RuL₃²⁺ has been comparatively discussed with that for the quenching reactions with conclusion that spin conversion between two spin forms ³[RuL₃^3+/+⋯Q^−/+] and ¹[RuL₃^3+/+⋯Q^−/+] of an activated complex play a crucial role in both electron transfer processes.