Modular synthesis of ruthenium tripodal system with variable anchoring groups positions for semiconductor sensitization

We describe an improved synthetic approach to access tripodal compounds with variable footprints and anchor groups. Two ruthenium(II) bipyridine tripodal complexes with three carboxylic acid groups in meta (Ru-m-COOH, 1) and para (Ru-p-COOH, 2) positions, and with large (180–250 Å2) footprints were synthesized and bound to the surface of nanostructured TiO2. Selected properties of 1 and 2 in solution and bound are reported.