Electron transfer triggered sulfoxide isomerization in ruthenium and osmium complexes

The background and achievements in the growing field of electron-transfer triggered sulfoxide isomerizations is reviewed. Starting with the original electrochemical investigations by Taube, followed by the seminal investigations by Deutsch and Meyer and concluding with the picosecond transient absorption measurements of the direct excited state S -> O isomerization, this review highlights these important contributions to the field. The remarkable photochemistry exhibited by certain ruthenium sulfoxide complexes is contrasted with the more well-known medicinal chemistry of ruthenium-halo-sulfoxide complexes. This chemistry is also compared to the photochemistry of metal nitrosyl complexes. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.