Synthesis, characterization, electrochemical and photophysical properties of elbow-shaped trinuclear Ru(II) complexes, building blocks for novel supramolecular constructions.

Three trinuclear elbow-shaped Ru(II) complexes based on the non symmetrical bridging PHEHAT ligand (PHEHAT = 1,10-phenanthrolino[5,6-b]-1,4,5,8,9,12-hexaazatriphenylene) have been prepared and characterized by NMR, electrochemistry, absorption and emission spectroscopy. It is shown that the dichloro trinuclear complex 1 should behave as an excellent precursor for the synthesis of larger species. Indeed, it reacts easily with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene (TAP) and leads to the trinuclear compounds 2 and 3, respectively. The electrochemical and emission studies indicate that for 2 and 3, there is an intramolecular energy transfer from the center to the periphery of the elbow-shaped trinuclear complex, whereas for complex 1 the energy transfer takes place in the other direction.