Electropolymerization of a Ru(II)-terpyridine complex ethynyl-terthiophene functionalized originating different metallopolymers

Synthesis and electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization of a 2:1 homoleptic Ru(II) complex, [Ru(TAT)2]2+ (TAT = 4′-(2,2′:5′,2″-terthien-3′-ethynyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine), are here reported. The complex has been used as starting material to originate the relevant metallopolymer poly[Ru(TAT)2], deriving from the anodic electropolymerization on the terthiophene moiety. The metallopolymer has been characterized by electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques, comparing it to the corresponding conducting polymer poly(TAT). Furthermore, [Ru(TAT)2]2+ revealed the unexpected behaviour to cathodically polymerize. Such metallopolymer has been electrochemically and optically characterized, and its behaviour was compared to the metallopolymer originated by anodic polymerization.