Search Results (23)

An asymmetric two-arm polypyridine ligand 4′-{4-[4-(2,2′-dipyridyl)phenyl]}-2,2′:6′,2′-terpyridine (TPY-Ph-BPY) with double coordination units was synthesized using the one-step Suzuki reaction. The metallic supramolecular film was subsequently obtained by the Fe²⁺-induced self-assembly method at the CHCl₃-H₂O interface, which displayed a distinct flat and continuous morphology. The supramolecular film-coated ITO electrode demonstrated a reversible electrochemical redox behavior with pronounced color changes between purple and light green. Its solid-state electrochromic device had an optical contrast (ΔT%) of 26.2% at λ_max = 573 nm with balanced coloring (t_c = 2.4 s) and bleaching (t_b = 2.6 s) times and a high current efficiency of 507.8 cm²/C. Moreover, good cycling stability with a long-term reversible color change was observed beyond 900 cycles. These results suggested the promising potential of the TPY-Ph-BPY-Fe(II) supramolecular film for electrochromic applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cu(II) complexes with polypyridine ligands have shown carcinogenic activity already described in the literature and appear as a possible alternative to cisplatin, which has several side effects. In view of this, four Cu(II) complexes with the formulas [Cu(L1)(H₂O)₂](PF₆)₂ (A1) and [Cu(L2)(H₂O)₂](PF₆)₂ (A2), [Cu(L1)(bipy)](PF₆)₂ (B1) and [Cu(L2)(bipy)](PF₆)₂ (B2) were synthesized, where L1 = dipyrido[1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4-b]quinoxaline, L2 = 6,7-dicyanodipyrido[2,2-d:2,3-f]quinoxaline, and bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine. Methods: The proposed structures supported characterization techniques (molar conductivity, elemental analyses, absorption spectroscopy in the infrared region, and UV–vis). The interaction of the complexes with DNA was evaluated through an ethidium bromide displacement assay, complemented by theoretical studies using molecular docking. Additionally, the cytotoxic activity of the complexes was tested against DU 145 (prostate tumor), MCF-7 (breast tumor), and PNT-2 (non-tumor prostate) cell lines, with all complexes showing promising results. Results: Among them, complex B1 exhibited the highest number of DNA contacts in molecular docking studies, a binding constant of 3.7 × 10⁶ in the ethidium bromide displacement assay. It was the most selective complex (IS = 5.43) for the DU 145 (prostate tumor) cell line, demonstrating greater selectivity than cisplatin. Conclusions: This study has demonstrated the potential of the Cu(II) complexes obtained, which could be an alternative to platinum complexes in the future Full article

This review examines the existing knowledge about Ru(II)/(III) ion complexes with a potential application in medicine or pharmacy, which may offer greater potential in cancer chemotherapy than Pt(II) complexes, which are known to cause many side effects. Hence, much attention has been paid to research on cancer cell lines and clinical trials have been undertaken on ruthenium complexes. In addition to their antitumor activity, ruthenium complexes are under evaluation for other diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and HIV. Attempts are also being made to evaluate ruthenium complexes as potential photosensitizers with polypyridine ligands for use in cancer chemotherapy. The review also briefly examines theoretical approaches to studying the interactions of Ru(II)/Ru(III) complexes with biological receptors, which can facilitate the rational design of ruthenium-based drugs. Full article

This short note describes the synthesis of a novel compound, 6,6′-di-(8″-quinoline)-2,2′-bypyridine (2), that bears a bipyridyl backbone and quinoline donors. Compound 2 coordinates with a cobalt(II) ion in a tetradentate manner and affords the complex [Co^II(2)(TfO)₂], whose molecular structure has been identified by single crystal X-ray diffraction crystallographic analysis. The coordination features of 2 were compared with those of 2,2′:6′,2″:6″,2‴-quaterpyridine (qtpy, 1), a well-studied tetradentate polypyridine ligand. Compound 2 presents a new example of tetradentate chelators for 3d metal ions. Full article

Complexes consisting of earth-abundant main group metals such as silicon with polypyridine ligands are of interest for a variety of optical and electronic applications including as electrochromic colorants. Previous spectroelectrochemical studies with tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)silicon(IV) hexafluorophosphate, [Si(bpy)₃](PF₆)_4, demonstrated an ability to control the color saturation of the potential electrochromic dye, with the intensity of the dye’s green color increasing as the charge state sequentially reduces from 4+ to 1+. In this study, the synthesis of bis(4′-(4-tolyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine)silicon(IV) hexafluorophosphate, [Si(ttpy)₂](PF₆)₄, is reported along with electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical analyses. Computational modeling (density functional theory) is used to further elucidate the electrochromic properties of previously reported Si(bpy)₃ⁿ⁺ species and the new Si(ttpy)₂ⁿ⁺ species. While the homoleptic tris(bidentate)silicon(IV) complexes are attractive as electrochromic dyes for tunable color saturation, the bis(tridentate)silicon(IV) complexes are attractive as polychromatic electrochromic dyes. Full article

Molecular catalysts based on coordination complexes for the generation of hydrogen via photochemical water splitting exhibit a large versatility and tunability of the catalytic properties through chemical functionalization. In the present work, we report on light-driven hydrogen production in an aqueous solution using a series of cobalt polypyridine complexes as hydrogen evolving catalysts (HECs) in combination with CuInS₂@ZnS quantum dots (QDs) as sensitizers, and ascorbate as the electron donor. A peculiar trend in activity has been observed depending on the substituents present on the polypyridine ligand. This trend markedly differs from that previously recorded using [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (where bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine) as the sensitizer and can be ascribed to different kinetically limiting pathways in the photochemical reaction (viz. protonation kinetics with the ruthenium chromophore, catalyst activation via electron transfer from the QDs in the present system). Hence, this work shows how the electronic effects on light-triggered molecular catalysis are not exclusive features of the catalyst unit but depend on the whole photochemical system. Full article

Very little cyclic voltammetry data for tris(polypyridine)manganese(II) complexes, [Mn^II(N^N)₃]²⁺, where N^N is bipyridine (bpy), phenanthroline (phen) or substituted bpy or phen ligands, respectively; are available in the literature. Cyclic voltammograms were found for tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)manganese(II) perchlorate only. In addition to our recently published related research article, the data presented here provides cyclic voltammograms and corresponding voltage-current data obtained during electrochemical oxidation and the reduction of four [Mn^II(N^N)₃]²⁺ complexes, using different scan rates and analyte concentrations. The results show increased concentration and scan rates resulting in higher Mn(II/III) peak oxidation potentials and increased peak current-voltage separations of the irreversible Mn(II/III) redox event. The average peak oxidation and peak reduction potentials of the Mn(II/III) redox events stayed constant within 0.01 V. Similarly, the average of the peak oxidation and reduction potentials of the ligand-based reduction events of [Mn^II(N^N)₃]²⁺ were constant within 0.01 V. Full article

We present the electric field-induced absorption (electroabsorption, EA) spectra of the solid neat films of tris(bipyridine) Ru(II) complexes, which were recently functionalized in our group as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells, and we compare them with the results obtained for an archetypal [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ ion (RBY). We argue that it is difficult to establish a unique set of molecular parameter values by discrete parametrization of the EA spectra under the Liptay formalism for non-degenerate excited states. Therefore, the experimental EA spectra are compared with the spectra computed by the TDDFT (time-dependent density-functional theory) method, which for the first time explains the mechanism of electroabsorption in tris(bipyridine) Ru complexes without any additional assumptions about the spectral lineshape of the EA signal. We have shown that the main EA feature, in a form close to the absorption second derivative observed in the spectral range of the first MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) absorption band in Ru(bpy)₃(PF₆)₂, can be attributed to a delocalized and orbitally degenerate excited state. This result may have key implications for the EA mechanism in RBY-based systems that exhibit similar EA spectra due to the robust nature of MLCT electronic states in such systems. Full article

The control of ligand-field splitting in iron (II) complexes is critical to slow down the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT)-excited states deactivation pathways. The gap between the metal-centered states is maximal when the coordination sphere of the complex approaches an ideal octahedral geometry. Two new iron(II) complexes (C1 and C2), prepared from pyridylNHC and pyridylquinoline type ligands, respectively, have a near-perfect octahedral coordination of the metal. The photophysics of the complexes have been further investigated by means of ultrafast spectroscopy and TD-DFT modeling. For C1, it is shown that—despite the geometrical improvement—the excited state deactivation is faster than for the parent pseudo-octahedral C0 complex. This unexpected result is due to the increased ligand flexibility in C1 that lowers the energetic barrier for the relaxation of ³MLCT into the ³MC state. For C2, the effect of the increased ligand field is not strong enough to close the prominent deactivation channel into the metal-centered quintet state, as for other Fe-polypyridine complexes. Full article

Diisocyanide ligands with a m-terphenyl backbone provide access to Mo⁰ complexes exhibiting the same type of metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) luminescence as the well-known class of isoelectronic Ru^II polypyridines. The luminescence quantum yields and lifetimes of the homoleptic tris(diisocyanide) Mo⁰ complexes depend strongly on whether methyl- or tert-butyl substituents are placed in α-position to the isocyanide groups. The bulkier tert-butyl substituents lead to a molecular structure in which the three individual diisocyanides ligated to one Mo⁰ center are interlocked more strongly into one another than the ligands with the sterically less demanding methyl substituents. This rigidification limits the distortion of the complex in the emissive excited-state, causing a decrease of the nonradiative relaxation rate by one order of magnitude. Compared to Ru^II polypyridines, the molecular distortions in the luminescent ³MLCT state relative to the electronic ground state seem to be smaller in the Mo⁰ complexes, presumably due to delocalization of the MLCT-excited electron over greater portions of the ligands. Temperature-dependent studies indicate that thermally activated nonradiative relaxation via metal-centered excited states is more significant in these homoleptic Mo⁰ tris(diisocyanide) complexes than in [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)₃]²⁺. Full article

The use of iron in photoactive metal complexes has been investigated for decades. In this respect, the charge transfer (CT) states are of particular interest, since they are usually responsible for the photofunctionality of such compounds. However, only recently breakthroughs have been made in extending CT excited state lifetimes that are notoriously short-lived in classical polypyridine iron coordination compounds. This success is in large parts owed to the use of strongly σ-donating N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands that help manipulating the photophysical and photochemical properties of iron complexes. In this review we aim to map out the basic design principles for the generation of photofunctional iron NHC complexes, summarize the progress made so far and recapitulate on the synthetic methods used. Further, we want to highlight the challenges still existing and give inspiration for future generations of photoactive iron complexes. Full article

Cancer is known to be one of the major causes of death nowadays. Among others, chemotherapy with cisplatin is a commonly used treatment. Although widely employed, cisplatin is known to cause severe side effects, such as nerve and kidney damage, nausea, vomiting, and bone marrow suppression. Most importantly, a number of cancer tumors are acquiring resistance to cisplatin, limiting its clinical use. There is therefore a need for the discovery of novel anticancer agents. Complementary to chemotherapy, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has expanded the range of treatment opportunities of numerous kinds of cancer. Nonetheless, the currently approved PDT photosensitizers (PSs) suffer from major drawbacks, which include poor water solubility or photobleaching, in addition to a slow clearance from the body that causes photosensitivity. Due to these limitations, there is a need for the development of new PDT PSs. To overcome these problems, a lot of research groups around the world are currently focusing their attention towards the development of new metal complexes as PDT PSs. However, most synthesized compounds reported so far show limited use due to their poor absorption in the phototherapeutic window. Herein, we report on the preparation and characterization of three Fe(II) polypyridine complexes (4–6) and evaluate their potential as both anticancer agents and PDT PSs. Very importantly, these compounds are stable in human plasma, photostable upon continuous LED irradiation, and absorb in the red region of the spectrum. We could demonstrate that through additional sulfonic acid groups on the polypyridine ligand being used (bphen: 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline), the water solubility of the complexes could be highly improved, whereas the photophysical properties did not significantly change. One of these complexes (4) shows interesting toxicity, with IC₅₀ values in the low micromolar range in the dark as well as some phototoxicity upon irradiation at 480 and 540 nm against RPE-1 and HeLa cells. Full article

Nanostructured dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are promising photovoltaic devices because of their low cost and transparency. Ruthenium polypyridine complexes have long been considered as lead sensitizers for DSSCs, allowing them to reach up to 11% conversion efficiency. However, ruthenium suffers from serious drawbacks potentially limiting its widespread applicability, mainly related to its potential toxicity and scarcity. This has motivated continuous research efforts to develop valuable alternatives from cheap earth-abundant metals, and among them, iron is particularly attractive. Making iron complexes applicable in DSSCs is highly challenging due to an ultrafast deactivation of the metal–ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) states into metal-centered (MC) states, leading to inefficient injection into TiO₂. In this review, we present our latest developments in the field using Fe(II)-based photosensitizers bearing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, and their use in DSSCs. Special attention is paid to synthesis, photophysical, electrochemical, and computational characterization. Full article

In recent years, nickel has entered the stage for catalyzed C–C cross-coupling reactions, replacing expensive palladium, and in some cases enabling the use of new substrate classes. Polypyridine ligands have played an important role in this development, and the prototypical tridentate 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (tpy) stands as an excellent example of these ligands. This review summarizes research that has been devoted to exploring the mechanistic details in catalyzed C–C cross-coupling reactions using tpy-based nickel systems. Full article

A number of novel ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes have been designedand synthesized for use as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) due totheir rich photophysical properties such as intense absorption, long-lived lifetimes, highemission quantum yields and unique redox characteristics. Many of these complexesexhibit photophysical behavior that can be readily controlled through a careful choice ofligands and/or substituents. With this perspective, we review the design and general syntheticmethods of some polypyridine ligands based on bipyridine, phenanthroline, terpyridine andquaterpyridine with/without anchoring groups with a view to correlate functionality ofligand structures with the observed photophysical, electroredox and power conversionefficiency of some examples of Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes that have been reported andparticularly used in the DSSCs applications. The main interest, however, is focused onshowing the development of new polypyridine ligand materials containing long-rangeelectron transfer motifs such as the alkenyl, alkynyl and polyaromatic donor functionalities. Full article