Ni(0) catalysed homo-coupling reactions: a novel route towards the synthesis of multinuclear ruthenium polypyridine complexes featuring made-to-order properties

A new synthetic procedure for the efficient preparation of dinuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes is reported. The compounds synthesised are [(bpy)2Ru(BPBT)Ru(bpy)2](PF6)2 and [(bpy)2Ru(BPZBT)Ru(bpy)2](PF6)2 (bpy=2,2′-bipyridine; H2BPBT=5,5′-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-3,3′-bis(1,2,4-triazole); H2BPZBT=5,5′-bis(pyrazin-2-yl)-3,3′-bis(1,2,4-triazole). Electrochemical experiments show that the two dinuclear systems investigated exhibit pH switchable intercomponent interactions.