Modular synthesis of alkyne-substituted ruthenium polypyridyl complexes suitable for "click" coupling.

A modular synthetic method has been developed for the preparation of Ru polypyridyl complexes bearing a terminal alkyne. This method proceeds through a readily accessible intermediate with a silyl-protected alkyne and allows access to a variety of five- and six-coordinate Ru complexes. These complexes can be easily attached to azide-functionalized electrode surfaces with only slight perturbation of the redox properties of the parent complex.