Immobilization and electrochemical properties of ruthenium and iridium complexes on carbon electrodes

We report the synthesis and surface immobilization of two new pyrene-appended molecular metal complexes: a ruthenium tris(bipyridyl) complex (1) and a bipyridyl complex of [Cp*Ir] (2) (Cp*  =  pentamethylcyclopentadienyl). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed successful immobilization on high surface area carbon electrodes, with the expected elemental ratios for the desired compounds. Electrochemical data collected in acetonitrile solution revealed a reversible reduction of 1 near  -1.4 V, and reduction of 2 near  -0.75 V. The noncovalent immobilization, driven by association of the appended pyrene groups with the surface, was sufficiently stable to enable studies of the molecular electrochemistry. Electroactive surface coverage of 1 was diminished by only 27% over three hours soaking in electrolyte solution as measured by cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical response of 2 resembled its soluble analogues, and suggested that ligand exchange occurred on the surface. Together, the results demonstrate that noncovalent immobilization routes are suitable for obtaining fundamental understanding of immobilized metal complexes and their reductive electrochemical properties.