Cyclometalated Ruthenium Complexes of 1,2,3-Triazole-containing Ligands: Synthesis, Structural Studies, and Electronic Properties

Six bis-tridentate and two tris-bidentate cyclometalated ruthenium complexes with a 1,2,3-triazole-containing ligand have been prepared and characterized. Single-crystal X-ray analyses of complexes [(MeOptpy)Ru(Budtab)](PF6) and [(Mebip)Ru(Budtab)](PF6) are presented, where MeOptpy is 4′-p-methoxyphenyl-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, Budtab is the 2-deprotonated form of 1,3-di(N-n-butyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)benzene, and Mebip is bis(N-methyl-benzimidazolyl)pyridine. The electronic properties of these complexes are probed by spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations have been performed to assist the assignment of the absorption spectra.