Synthesis, structural characterization and photocatalytic water-oxidation properties of mononuclear bis(o-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) complexes with dithiocarbamate ligands

Abstract Treatment of cis-[(phen)2RuCl2]∙2H2O (phen = o-phenanthroline) with one equivalent of dialkyl-dithiocarbamate ligands in ethanol afforded four mononuclear bis(o-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) complexes [(phen)2Ru(S2CNR2)](PF6) (R = Me, 1; Et, 2; nPr, 3; nBu, 4). Complexes 1−4 were characterized by IR, NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopies and their electrochemical properties were also investigated. The structures of complexes 1−3 have been unambiguously established by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The photocatalytic properties towards water oxidation of complexes 1−4 driven by visible light (λ > 420 nm) in a three-component system containing a photosensitizer [Ru(bpy)3]2+ and an electron acceptor S2O82− were also investigated.