Emission switching of ferrocenyl Schiff bases and a representative ruthenium complex in alkaline DMSO: Absorption, electrochemical and microstructural studies

N,N′-Bis(4-ferrocenyl)-p-phenylene/octamethylene-diimines (L1/L2) and a representative Ru(II) complex [Ru(DMSO)2Cl2L1]·2H2O were prepared and characterized which showed many fold enhancement in their luminescence in alkaline dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution. Spectral and electrochemical properties of these compounds have been studied. Microstructure (SEM) of L1 and its complex showed single-phase porous material of crystal size ∼1 μm.