Donation and scavenging of nitric oxide (NO) by flipping of the denticity of carboxylate ligand in novel ruthenium complexes: Photolability of the coordinated NO

Ruthenium nitrosyl complex [Ru(η1-L1)(PPh3)2(NO)Cl2] (2) was synthesized and molecular structure of 2 was determined by X-ray crystallography. Complex 2 acted as novel nitric oxide (NO) donor under light and provided precursor complex [Ru(η2-L1)(PPh3)2Cl2] (1) after NO delivery. Complex 1 was found to be potential NO scavenger. Flipping of denticity of carboxylate ligand was observed during NO donation and scavenging.