Complexes derived from meso-tetra(thienyl)porphyrins
(TThP) and meso-tetra(pyridyl)porphyrin (TPyP) containing
peripheral ruthenium complexes with general formulas {TPyP[RuCl(dppb)(5,5′-Mebipy)]4}(PF6)4, {TThP[RuCl(dppb)(5,5′-Mebipy)]4}(PF6)4, and {TThP-me-[RuCl(dppb)(5,5′-Mebipy)]4}(PF6)4 [5,5′-Mebipy = 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine
and dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane] were synthesized and
characterized by spectroscopy techniques (1H- and 31P{1H}-NMR, IR, UV/vis, fluorescence, and electron
paramagnetic resonance (EPR)), cyclic voltammetry, coulometry, molar
conductivity, and elemental analysis. Voltammetry and UV/vis studies
demonstrated differentiated electronic properties for ruthenium appended
with TThP and TThP-me when compared to ruthenium appended with TPyP.
The UV/vis analysis for the ruthenium complex derived from TThP and
TThP-me, as well as the Soret and Q bands, characteristics of porphyrins,
showed a band at 700 nm referring to the Ru → S electronic
transition, and porphyrin TThP-me showed another band at 475 nm from
the Ru–N transition. The attribution of these bands was confirmed
by spectroelectrochemical analysis. Cyclic voltammetry analysis for
the ruthenium complex derived from TPyP exhibited only an electrochemical
process with E
1/2 = 0.47 V assigned to
the Ru(II)/Ru(III) redox pair (Fc/Fc+). On the other hand,
two processes were observed for the ruthenium complexes derived from
TThP and TThP-me, with E
1/2 around 0.17
and 0.47 V, which were attributed to the formation of a mixed valence
tetranuclear species containing Ru(II) and Ru(III) ions, showing that
the peripheral groups are not oxidized at the same potential. Fluorescence
spectroscopic experiments show the existence of a mixed state of emission
in the supramolecular porphyrin moieties. The results suggest the
formation of Ru(II)–Ru(III) mixed valence complexes when oxidation
potential was applied around 0.17 V in the {TThP[RuCl(dppb)(5,5′-Mebipy)]4}(PF6)4 and {TThP-me-[RuCl(dppb)(5,5′-Mebipy)]4}(PF6)4 species.