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All you need is an open vial! The direct α arylation of cyclic alkylamines (see scheme) requires an open vial, as the hydrogen atom involved in the C(sp3)H‐activation process is ultimately released as hydrogen gas. Reports on the formation of hydrogen gas in direct transition‐metal‐catalyzed functionalizations are still rare. Open‐vial reactions proved crucial to this direct arylation procedure as, upon sealing, catalyst deactivation occurs.

The complex [Ru(bpy)2(dbneil)][PF6]2 forms discrete dimers in solution held by strong pi-pi stacking interactions via its distorted dibenzoeilatin ligand, indicating that planarity is not an obligatory requirement for achieving strong pi-stacking, as long as complementarity between the stacking moieties can be achieved.

This work describes a study of Ru(II) and Os(II) polypyridyl complexes of the symmetrical, fused-aromatic bridging ligand dibenzoeilatin (1). The synthesis, purification, and structural characterization by NMR of the mononuclear complexes [Ru(bpy)(2)(dbneil)](2+) (2), [Ru(tmbpy)(2)(dbneil)](2+) (3), and [Os(bpy)(2)(dbneil)](2+) (4), the homodinuclear complexes [[Ru(bpy)(2)](2)[micro-dbneil]](4+) (5), [[Ru(tmbpy)(2)](2)[micro-dbneil]](4+) (6), and [[Os(bpy)(2)](2)[micro-dbneil]](4+) (7), and the heterodinuclear complex [[Ru(bpy)(2)][micro-dbneil][Os(bpy)(2)]](4+) (8) are described, along with the crystal structures of 4, 6, and 7. Absorption spectra of the mononuclear complexes feature a low-lying MLCT band around 600 nm. The coordination of a second metal fragment results in a dramatic red shift of the MLCT band to beyond 700 nm. Cyclic and square wave voltammograms of the mononuclear complexes exhibit one reversible metal-based oxidation, as well as several ligand-based reduction waves. The first two reductions, attributed to reduction of the dibenzoeilatin ligand, are substantially anodically shifted compared to [M(bpy)(3)](2+) (M = Ru, Os), consistent with the low-lying pi orbital of dibenzoeilatin. The dinuclear complexes exhibit two reversible, well-resolved, metal-centered oxidation waves, despite the chemical equivalence of the two metal centers, indicating a significant metal-metal interaction mediated by the conjugated dibenzoeilatin ligand. Luminescence spectra, quantum yield, and lifetime measurements at room temperature in argon-purged acetonitrile have shown that the complexes exhibit (3)MLCT emission, which occurs in the IR-region between 950 and 1300 nm. The heterodinuclear complex 8 exhibits luminescence only from the Ru-based fragment, the intensity of which is less than 1% of that observed in the corresponding homodinuclear complex 5; no emission from the Os-based unit is observed, and an intramolecular quenching constant of k(q) > or = 3 x10(9) s(-)(1) is evaluated. The nature of the quenching process is briefly discussed.