Non-innocent behaviour of ancillary and bridging ligands in homovalent and mixed-valent ruthenium complexes [A2Ru(mu-L)RuA2]n, A = 2,4-pentanedionato or 2-phenylazopyridine, L(2-) = 2,5-bis(2-oxidophenyl)pyrazine.

Structurally characterised 2,5-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyrazine (H2L) can be partially or fully deprotonated to form the complexes [(acac)2Ru(mu-L)Ru(acac)2], [1], acac = acetylacetonato = 2,4-pentanedionato, (pap)2Ru(mu-L)Ru(pap)22, 22, pap = 2-phenylazopyridine, or (pap)2Ru(HL), 3. Several reversible oxidation and reduction processes were observed in each case and were analysed with respect to oxidation state alternatives through EPR and UV-VIS-NIR spectroelectrochemistry. In relation to previously reported compounds with 2,2'-bipyridine as ancillary ligands the complex redox system [1]n is distinguished by a preference for metal-based electron transfer whereas the systems [2]n and [3]n favour an invariant Ru(II) state. Accordingly, the paramagnetic forms of [1]n, n = -, 0, +, exhibit metal-centred spin whereas the odd-electron intermediates [2]+, 2 and [3] show radical-type EPR spectra. A comparison with analogous complexes involving the 3,6-bis(2-oxidophenyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine reveals the diminished pi acceptor capability of the pyrazine-containing bridge.