Multielectron storage and photo-induced electron transfer in oligonuclear complexes containing ruthenium(II) terpyridine and ferrocene building blocks

The heteroleptic complex [(HOOC-tpy)Ru(tpy-NH2)](PF6)(2) (tpy = 2,2';6',2-terpyridine) has been incorporated into a multicomponent system with ferrocene moieties attached on either the N-terminal end or the C-terminal end and on both ends of the ruthenium complex. Electrochemical studies reveal almost noninteracting subunits in the oligonuclear systems, whereas ground-state and excited-state optical properties are shown to strongly depend on the site of ferrocene attachment. Interpretation of the experimental results is supported by DFT calculations. (c) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006.