Synthesis and photophysical properties of isocyano Ruthenium(II) quinoline-8-thiolate complexes with visible-light and near-infrared emission

• Synthesis of red/near-IR emissive RuII isocyano complexes of quinoline-8-thiolate.
• X-ray structures for the geometrical isomers of the RuII isocyano complexes.
• Photophysical properties on varied ligand electronic nature and isomerism.
• Electrochemical properties on varied ligand electronic nature and isomerism.
• DFT calculation of molecular orbitals of geometrical isomers.

The reactions of [RuII(SQ)2(PPh3)2] (SQ = quinoline-8-thiolate) with different isocyanide ligands affords a series of emissive bis(quinoline-8-thiolate) ruthenium(II) complexes [RuII(SQ)2(PPh3)(CNR)] (1–6). Two isomeric forms, i.e. cis,trans (1a – 6a) and cis,cis (1b – 6b) have been separated in these reactions. With the variation on the π-accepting ability of the isocyanide ligands, the CN stretches, lowest energy absorptions and the photoluminescence can be systematically modified.

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