A High Molar Extinction Coefficient Bisterpyridyl Homoleptic Ru(II) Complex with trans-2-Methyl-2-butenoic Acid Functionality: Potential Dye for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Adewale O. Adeloye³  Temitope O. Olomola¹  Akinbulu I. Adebayo² 

[1] Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, P.M.B. 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; E-Mail:;Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria; E-Mail:;Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, P.M.B. X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; E-Mail:

关键词: homoleptic Ru(II) complex;    terpyridine;    2-Methyl-2-butenoic acid;    extended-π-bond conjugation;    spectroscopy;    molar extinction coefficient;    electrochemistry;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms13033511

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In our continued efforts in the synthesis of ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes as potential dyes for use in varied applications, such as the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), this work particularly describes the synthesis, absorption spectrum, redox behavior and luminescence properties of a new homoleptic ruthenium(II) complex bearing a simple trans-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid functionality as the anchoring ligand on terpyridine moiety. The functionalized terpyridine ligand: 4′-(trans-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid)-terpyridyl (L1) was synthesized by aryl bromide substitution on terpyridine in a basic reaction condition under palladium carbide catalysis. In particular, the photophysical and redox properties of the complex formulated as: bis-4′-(trans-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid)-terpyridyl ruthenium(II) bis-hexafluorophosphate [Ru(L1)₂(PF₆)₂] are significantly better compared to those of [Ru(tpy)₂]²⁺ and compare well with those of the best emitters of Ru(II) polypyridine family containing tridentate ligands. Reasons for the improved photophysical and redox properties of the complex may be attributed partly to the presence of a substituted α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid moiety leading to increase in the length of π-conjugation bond thereby enhancing the MLCT-MC (Metal-to-ligand-charge transfer-metal centred) energy gap, and to the reduced difference between the minima of the excited and ground states potential energy surfaces.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.