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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Methyl Ester Functionalized Phenalenyl Arene- and Bipyridine-Ruthenium-Based Complexes for Electroactive
Isis Mani Wahl1, Eduard Westphal2, Tiago Leyser da Costa Gouveia1
1Departamento de Química , Universidade Federal do Paraná , 81530-900 , Curitiba - Paraná , Brazil.
Abstract:
We report the synthesis of a new phenalenyl ligand, functionalized with a methyl ester electron withdrawing group, named 9-hydroxy-1-oxo-1 H-phenalen-5-methyl carboxylate (L), and the generated complexes [Ru(bpy)2L]PF6 and [(η6-C6H6)Ru(L)Cl]. Compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction methods, and their electrochemical behavior was investigated via cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry. The one-electron oxidized compounds have an unpaired electron located in the phenalenyl ring, as supported by theoretical calculations (DFT) and EPR results. Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films deposited by [Ru(bpy)2L]2+/3+ species mixed with stearic acid are electroactive, showing a quasi-reversible wave with E1/2Film1 = 0.74 V and E1/2Film2 = 0.81, which are promising systems that allow access to immobilized open-shell species in the film.
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