Spectroscopic and redox properties of amine-functionalized K2[OsII(bpy)(CN)4] complexes

We report the first examples of amine-functionalized K2[OsII(bpy)(CN)4] (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) complexes. The tetracyanoosmate complexes were prepared by UV irradiation (λ = 254 nm) of K4[OsII(CN)6] and primary amine-functionalized bpy ligands in acidic aqueous media. The aqueous solution pH dependences of the spectroscopic and redox properties of 4,4′- and 5,5′-substituted complexes have been investigated. The pendant amine functional groups and coordinated cyanide ligands are basic sites that can be sequentially protonated, thereby allowing systematic tuning of electrochemical and optical spectroscopic properties.