CuAAC click reactions for the design of multifunctional luminescent ruthenium complexes

CuAAC (Cu(i) catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition) click chemistry has emerged as a versatile tool in the development of photoactive ruthenium complexes with multilateral potential applicability. In this contribution we discuss possible synthetic approaches towards CuAAC reactions with ruthenium(ii) polypyridine complexes and their differences with respect to possible applications. We focus on two main application possibilities of the click-coupled ruthenium assemblies. New results within the development of ruthenium based photosensitizers for the field of renewable energy supply, i.e. DSSCs (dye-sensitized solar cells) and artificial photocatalysis for the production of hydrogen, or for anticancer photodynamic therapeutic applications are reviewed.