The two ligands 1 (4'-(3-anisylphenyl)-2,2';6',2' '-terpyridine) and 2 (2-mesityl-8-anisyl-1,10-phenanthroline) (Scheme 2) were synthesized and coordinated to ruthenium. The corresponding complexes Ru(1)(2)(L)n+, where L = Cl-, CH3CN, or C5H5N, have been fully characterized. Notably, the hindering mesityl group of the phenanthroline ligand was shown to lie opposite to the monodentate ligand L both
A Ru(terpy)(phen) motif has been inscribed in a 39-membered ring by functionalizing the ligands and subsequently performing a cyclization reaction on the complex; by visible light irradiation, a dramatic geometrical changeover of the cyclic complex takes place which can be reversed thermally.