Two dinuclear Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes with different photophysical and cation recognition properties.

Two dinuclear Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes functionalized with vacant coordination sites have been designed and synthesized. Their photophysical properties and interactions with various metal ions have been investigated at room temperature. The two complexes exhibit different UV/Vis absorption and emission intensities. When titrated with various metal ions, complex {Ru(bpy)2}2(μ2-L(1)) exhibits a notable fluorescence quenching in the presence of Cu(2+) in H2O-CH3CN media (1:1, v/v); its analogous complex {Ru(bpy)2}2(μ2-L(2)) exhibits no cation selectivity, the fluorescence intensity of complex {Ru(bpy)2}2(μ2-L(2)) has been enhanced by several transition metal ions due to prevention of the photo-induced electron transfer process. The fluorescence titration spectra and Benesi-Hildebrand expression reveal the formation of a 1:1 bonding mode between {Ru(bpy)2}2(μ2-L(1)) and Cu(2+) ion with the association constant of 5.50×10(4) M(-1).