Self-Assembled Bis-Acridinium Tweezer Equilibria Controlled by Multi-Responsive Properties.

Protonated and methylated bis-acridinium tweezers built around a 2,6-diphenylpyridyl and an electron enriched 2,6-di(p-anisyl)pyridyl spacer have been synthesized. These tweezers can self-assemble in their corresponding homodimers and the associated thermodynamic parameters have been probed in organic solvents. The switching properties of the tweezers have been exploited in biphasic transfer experiments showing the shift of the equilibria towards the homodimers. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters of the formation of the reduced methylated homodimers investigated by electrochemical experiments revealed the dissociation of the dimers. Thus, in addition to solvent and temperature, the pH and redox responsiveness of the acridinium units of the tweezers make it possible to modulate to a larger extent the monomer-dimer equilibria.

The Electron Transfer Process in Mixed Valence Compounds with a Low-lying Energy Bridge in Different Oxidation States.

Mixed-valence compounds with the iso-cyanidometal-ligand bridge in different oxidation states are used as models for the investigation of the electron-transfer process. We synthesized a series of trimetallic isocyanidometal-bridged compounds with [Fe-CN-Ru-NC-Fe]n+ (n=2-4), in which the one-electron oxidation product (N3+ ) and two-electron oxidation product (N4+ ) compounds possess an isocyanidometal bridge whose energy is, respectively lower and slightly higher than the terminal metal centers energies. For the N3+ compounds, the bridge state (FeII -RuIII -FeII ) and mixed-valence states (FeIII -RuII -FeII or FeII -RuII -FeIII ) could be simultaneously observed on the IR timescale. For the N4+ compounds, as the donor becomes stronger the electron transfer bridge excited state (FeIII -RuII -FeIII ) becomes more and more stable, and even becomes ground state due to the strong electronic coupling between Fe and Ru.

Prototypes of molecular motors based on star-shaped organometallic ruthenium complexes.

This tutorial review presents our strategy to control the rotation in a molecular rotary motor, and the family of star-shaped ruthenium complexes designed to perform such a task. The molecules have a piano-stool structure with a "stator" meant to be grafted on a surface, and a "rotor" bearing redox-active groups, so that addressing the molecule with nano-electrodes would trigger rotation.

Synthesis and reactivity of [penta(4-halogenophenyl)cyclopentadienyl][hydrotris(indazolyl)borato]ruthenium(II) complexes: rotation-induced Fosbury flop in an organometallic molecular turnstile.

The preparation of ruthenium(II) complexes coordinated to a penta(4-halogeno)phenylcyclopentadienyl ligand and to the hydrotris(indazolyl)borate ligand are detailed. Our strategy involves first the coordination of the penta(4-bromo)phenylcyclopentadienyl ligand by reaction with the ruthenium-carbonyl cluster followed by the coordination of the tripodal ligand. The pentabrominated precursor was successfully converted to the pentaiodinated derivative by using the Klapars-Buchwald methodology, applied for the first time on organometallic substrates. Cross-coupling reactions were performed on both pentabromo and pentaiodo complexes to introduce in a single step the five peripheric ferrocenyl fragments required to obtain a potential molecular motor. The two ligands present in the ruthenium complexes undergo a correlated rotation that was established both experimentally by NMR experiments and an X-ray diffraction study, and theoretically by DFT calculations. The potential-energy curve obtained by DFT revealed the energy barrier of the gearing mechanism to be only 4.5 kcal mol(-1). These sterically highly constrained complexes can be regarded as organometallic molecular turnstiles.

Synthesis of molecular motors incorporating para-phenylene-conjugated or bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-insulated electroactive groups.

The insulating role of the bicyclo[2.2.2]octane fragment has been theoretically evaluated by comparing the electronic coupling parameter (V(ab)) in 1,4-bis(ferrocenyl)benzene (1) and 1,4-bis(ferrocenyl)bicyclo[2.2.2]octane (2). The geometries were optimized by DFT and an extended Hückel calculation was performed to evaluate V(ab) by the dimer splitting method. The calculations showed a 12-fold decrease of the electronic coupling from 60 meV for 1 to 5 meV for 2. The second part describes the synthesis of two potential molecular motors with one incorporating the insulating bicyclo[2.2.2]octane fragment. These molecules are based on a ruthenium complex bearing a tripodal stator functionalized to be anchored onto surfaces. The ferrocenyl electroactive groups and the cyclopentadienyl (Cp) rotor are connected through a p-phenylene spacer (5) or through a spacer incorporating an insulating bicyclo[2.2.2]octane moiety (6).

Three-centers models for electron transfer through a bridge. 1. Potential energy surfaces.

Three centers models adapted to the description of electron transfer through a bridge are discussed, with a special emphasis on potential energy surfaces. A short historical review of the available models is given, with a particular interest on the Bersuker-Borshch-Chibotaru model (1989) and the Lambert-Nöll-Schelter model (2002). We propose our own model, inspired from the Bersuker-Borshch-Chibotaru model, but with a more physical discussion of the parameters and coordinates. The diabatic surfaces, before the intervention of electronic couplings between external site and bridge, consist of three revolution paraboloids of equal radii. The bottoms of the paraboloids do not form in general an equilateral triangle; they form an isosceles one. At this stage, the basic parameters are the ones describing the position of the third paraboloid (corresponding to a redox process on the bridge) with respect to the other two. We define in particular an energy shift parameter (Delta) and a depth parameter (d), the latter corresponding to the position of this paraboloid in the third dimension, i.e., along a coordinate of reaction perpendicular to the usual reaction coordinate. The topology of diabatic and adiabatic surfaces is discussed. As an application, we explain the contrasted behavior of two mixed valence systems bridged by anthracene and dimethoxybenzodithiophene, which differ by the value of the d parameter.

Electron-triggered motions in technomimetic molecules.

Technomimetic molecules are molecules designed to imitate macroscopic objects at the molecular level, also transposing the motions that these objects are able to undergo. This article focuses on technomimetic molecules with motions triggered by electrons. The first part is devoted to our work in the field of molecular switches: after having demonstrated the possibility of controlling an intramolecular electron transfer by photoisomerisation, we are now trying to control the isomerisation, either by electrochemistry, or by embedding the photochromic compound in a self-assembled monolayer and testing the electrical conduction with a STM tip. In a second part, we present our strategy on controlling the rotation in a molecular rotary motor and the family of ruthenium complexes designed to perform such a task. The molecules have a piano-stool structure with a "stator" meant to be grafted on an oxide surface, and a "rotor" bearing redox-active groups, so that addressing the molecule with nano-electrodes would trigger rotation. The electrical control of the charge state of a molecule by a STM tip is developed in a final part.

On the role of the bridging dicyanamidobenzene ligand in a new binuclear ruthenium complex: [{Ru(tpy)(thd)}2(mu-dicyd)][PF6] with tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and thd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione.

The dicyanamidobenzene-bridge diruthenium complex [{Ru(tpy)(thd)}(2)(mu-dicyd)][PF(6)] ([3][PF(6)]) (dicyd = 1,4-dicyanamidobenzene, tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, thd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione) and its mononuclear counterpart [Ru(tpy)(thd)(Ipcyd)] (2) [Ipcyd = 4-iodophenylcyanamide anion (Ipcyd(-))] were synthesized and fully characterized. Cyclic voltammetry of 3 showed the presence of four reversible one-electron redox couples. UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry and EPR spectroscopy of the electrogenerated paramagnetic intermediates were used to ascertain the oxidation-state distribution. The stable starting dinuclear complex 3(+) is found to be a ligand-centered anion radical as shown by EPR spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and DFT calculations. Oxidation of 3(+) to 3(2+) led to an EPR silent system due to substantial intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction of the electron spins carried by the low spin ruthenium(III) atom and the bridging anion radical dicyanamido (dicyd(*)(-)), an observation which was supported by UV-vis-NIR, X-ray structure, and DFT calculations. Complex 3(3+) presented an EPR spectra consistent with a total effective spin S = (1)/(2) issued from an antiferromagnetic interaction of electron spins carried by two low spin ruthenium(III) atoms and the bridging anion radical dicyd(*)(-) in accordance with UV-vis-NIR. This study shows that the dicyanamidobenzene bridging ligand has indubitably a noninnocent behavior.

A star-shaped ruthenium complex with five ferrocenyl-terminated arms bridged by trans-platinum fragments.

We present the synthesis of the new heteropolytopic penta(4-ethynylphenyl)cyclopentadiene ligand, its complexation through the Cp ring to ruthenium tris(indazolyl)borate and through the terminal alkyne groups to five ferrocenyl ethynyl platinum units, yielding an undecanuclear heterotrimetallic complex.

Understanding electrochromic processes initiated by dithienylcyclopentene cation-radicals.

Simple photochromic dithienylethylenes with either a perfluoro or a perhydro cyclopentene ring, and a variety of substituents (chlorine, iodine, trimethylsilyl, phenylthio, aldehyde, carboxylic acid, and ethynylanisyl), have been prepared and their electrochemical behavior was explored by cyclic voltammetry. All dithienylethylenes present two-electron irreversible oxidation waves in their open form, but the cation-radical of the open isomers can follow two different reaction pathways: dimerization or ring closure, whereas the halogen derivatives follow a dimerization mechanism, the presence of donor groups, such as the phenylthio-substituted compound, promote an efficient oxidative ring closure following an ECE/DISP mechanism. Electrochromic properties are also found in the corresponding ring-closed isomers. Depending on the substituents on the thiophene ring, and the perfluro or perhydro cyclopentene ring, open isomers can be obtained from oxidation (chemical or electrochemical) of the corresponding ring-closed isomers via an EC mechanism. This reaction pathway is favored by the presence of electron-withdrawing groups in the molecule. For all these compounds, closed or open, the oxidation lies between 0.8 and 1.5 V vs SCE, and provokes a permanent modification of the color, even after an oxidation-reduction cycle. This could be qualified as "electrochromism with memory". On the other hand, the ring-closed electron-rich isomers (E degrees < 0.8 V), which show reversible waves at the cation-radical or even dication level, give rise to "true electrochromism", for which no structural changes are observed. The experimental study was completed by theoretical calculations at the DFT level, using B3LYP density functional, which gave information on the total energy, the geometry, and the electronic structures of several representative compounds, either in the neutral form or in the cation-radical state. These results are important for the potential design of photochromic systems, such as three-state conjugated systems and photoelectrical molecular switching devices.

Technomimetic molecules: synthesis of ruthenium(II) 1,2,3,4,5-penta(p-bromophenyl)cyclopentadienyl hydrotris(indazolyl)borate, an organometallic molecular turnstile.

A short route to prepare a ruthenium complex with a pentaphenyl substituted cyclopentadienyl and a hydrotris(indazolyl)borate ligand is described: this complex can be seen as an organometallic molecular turnstile.

Molecular wires built from binuclear cyclometalated complexes.

Binuclear complexes with cyclometalated ends of the [Ru(bpy)(2)(ppH)](+) type (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, ppH = 2-phenylpyridine), linked by various spacers, have been prepared. These spacers are made of one or two triple bonds, or bis-ethynyl aryl groups, with aryl = benzene, thiophene, or anthracene. The complexes with bis-ethynyl aryl spacers are obtained by Sonogashira couplings with suitable bis-alkynes, starting from the [Ru(bpy)(2)(ppBr)](+) synthon. Complexes with one or two triple bonds are obtained from the true alkyne [Ru(bpy)(2)(pp-CCH)](+) cyclometalated precursor, using respectively a Sonogashira coupling with the iodo derivative [Ru(bpy)(2)(ppI)](+), or an oxidative homocoupling. Some complexes with tert-butyl-substituted bipyridine ancillary ligands have also been obtained. Oxidation of the binuclear complexes occurs near 0.5 V, i.e., more easily than with [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+)-based complexes. A single anodic wave is observed, with almost no detectable splitting, corresponding to two closely spaced one-electron processes. Differential pulse voltammetry allows the determination of the corresponding comproportionation constants involving the mixed valence Ru(II)[bond]Ru(III) forms. Controlled potential electrolysis yields the mixed valence forms in comproportionation equilibrium with homovalent forms. Analysis of the intervalence transitions allows the calculation of the electronic coupling element V(ab). This series of complexes exhibit relatively large couplings when comparing with complexes of similar metal-metal distances, with a special mention for the anthracene-containing spacer, which appears particularly efficient for mediating the metal-metal interaction. The results can be rationalized by theoretical calculations at the extended Hückel level.

A new redox site as an alternative to ferrocene to study electron transfer in self-assembled monolayers.

The cyclometallated ruthenium complex [Ru(bpy)2(pp)]+ (bpy: 2,2'-bipyridine; pp: 2-(2'-ylphenyl)pyridine) was easily grafted to a omega-alkanethiol and the resulting compound was coadsorbed with 11-hydroxyundecanethiol on gold yielding a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) in an analogous manner as for a ferrocene derivative, as shown by impedance spectroscopy; the kinetics of the heterogeneous electron transfer were shown to be very fast, compared to ferrocene, which makes this new redox site a promising candidate for further studies about molecular wires.

Tetranuclear Tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3",2"-h:2"',3"'-j]phenazineruthenium Complex: Synthesis, Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering, and Photophysical Studies.

The tetranuclear ruthenium complex {Ru[(tpphz)Ru(bpy)(2)](3)}(8+), where tpphz is tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3",2"-h:2"',3"'-j]phenazine, has been synthesized by reaction of [Ru(tpphz)(3)](2+) with [Ru(bpy)(2)Cl(2)] and by reaction of [Ru(bpy)(2)(tpphz)](2+) with [Ru(DMSO)(4)Cl(2)]. The large distance between the chiral centers allows full (1)H NMR interpretation despite the mixture of eight stereoisomers. The tetranuclear complex was further characterized by electrospray mass spectrometry and by the wide-angle X-ray scattering technique, which confirmed the starburst geometry. The photophysical properties of the tetranuclear complex in acetonitrile were studied and compared with those of [Ru(tpphz)(3)](2+) (1 x 10(-)(4) M acidic solution) and [(bpy)(2)Ru(tpphz)Ru(bpy)(2)](4+) model molecules. The tetranuclear complex gives rise to a single emission, attributed to metal-to-ligand charge-transfer states involving peripheral Ru centers and tpphz bridging ligands.

Intervalence Electron Transfer in Mixed Valence Diferrocenylpolyenes. Decay Law of the Metal-Metal Coupling with Distance.

A series of diferrocenylpolyenes of general formula Fc(CH=CH)(n)()Fc with n = 1-6 (Fc = ferrocenyl group) has been prepared and studied from the point of view of intervalence transitions in the mixed valence state. Well-resolved intervalence transitions are observed in dichloromethane upon partial electrolytic oxidation. Comproportionation constants have been determined from redox titration data and in some cases from electrochemical wave splitting. The corrected spectra of the mixed valence species have been deconvoluted to extract the parameters (position, intensity, width) of the intervalence bands, which allowed the determination of the metal-metal coupling (V(ab)) through the bridging unit using Hush's formula. The decay of V(ab) with distance is close to an exponential law with an exponent of 0.087 Å(-)(1), constituting one of the smallest attenuations reported so far. A small deviation to the exponential law is detected.

Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Pentaammineruthenium(II) Complexes of 1-(4-Cyanophenyl)imidazole.

A new bridging ligand, 1-(4-cyanophenyl)imidazole (CPI) has been prepared, as well as its N-methylated derivative 1-methyl-3-(4-cyanophenyl)imidazolium iodide (CPI-Me(+)I(-)). The mononuclear and binuclear complexes [(NH(3))(5)Ru-CPI-Me](3+) and [(NH(3))(5)Ru-CPI-Ru(NH(3))(5)](4+) have been obtained. Free CPI is planar, according to theoretical calculations (MMX and MNDO), and its luminescence properties suggest the occurence of a twisted internal charge transfer (TICT) state. The comparison of the two ruthenium complexes reveals the spectral and electrochemical features of coordination by the cyanophenyl or by the imidazole groups. Controlled oxidation of the binuclear complex [(NH(3))(5)Ru-CPI-Ru(NH(3))(5)](4+) yields the mixed valence species [(NH(3))(5)Ru-CPI-Ru(NH(3))(5)](5+) in which the ruthenium coordinated to the cyanophenyl group is ruthenium(II) while the ruthenium linked to imidazole is ruthenium(III). An intervalence band is observed at 640 nm (epsilon = 188), from which the effective metal-metal coupling through the bridging ligand is determined as 0.032 eV. This value is satisfactorily reproduced by a theoretical calculation using the effective Hamiltonian theory. Finally the binuclear complex exhibits a weak luminescence when excited either on the ligand band near 260 nm or on the metal-to-ligand charge transfer band near 410 nm. The CPI ligand is the first example of a TICT-forming species with appreciable coupling between metallic sites and can be considered as a first step toward a molecular switch.