Excited state investigation of a new Ru(II) complex for dual reactivity with low energy light

The new complex [Ru(tpy)(Me2dppn)(py)]2+ efficiently photodissociates py in CH3CN with Φ500 = 0.053(1) induced by steric bulk from methyl substituents and produces 1O2 with ΦΔ = 0.69(9) from its long-lived 3ππ* excited state. The unique excited state processes that result in dual reactivity were investigated using ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy.