Synthesis and characterization of new ruthenium(II) complexes containing coupled di(2-pyridyl) and 1,3-dithiole units

Two new ruthenium (II) complexes containing coupled di(2-pyridyl) and 1,3-dithiole units, cis-[Ru(Medpydt)2(NCS)2] (2, Medpydt = dimethyl 2-(di(2-pyridyl)methylene)-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dicarboxylate) and cis-[Ru(H2dpydt)2(NCS)2] (3, H2dpydt = 2-(di(2-pyridyl)methylene)-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dicarboxylate), have been synthesized and characterized. The structure of complex 2 has been determined by X-ray crystallography. There exist intermolecular H-bonding interactions between carbomethoxy groups on neighboring pyridine rings giving rise to 2D H-bonded arrays. The metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) absorptions were observed around 480 nm. Redox properties of ruthenium complexes have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Solar cells involving thin films of anatase TiO2 impregnated with cis-[Ru(H2dpydt)2(NCS)2] were prepared, and the photovoltaic performance was preliminarily investigated.

Graphical abstractTwo new ruthenium (II) complexes containing coupled di(2-pyridyl) and 1,3-dithiole units, cis-[Ru(Medpydt)2(NCS)2] (2, Medpydt = dimethyl 2-(di(2-pyridyl)methylene)-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dicarboxylate) and cis-[Ru(H2dpydt)2(NCS)2] (3, H2dpydt = 2-(di(2-pyridyl)methylene)-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dicarboxylate), have been synthesized and characterized. The structure of complex 2 has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The photovoltaic performance for 3 was preliminarily investigated.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide