Thiocyanate linkage isomerism in a ruthenium polypyridyl complex
Abstract
Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes have seen extensive use in solar energy applications. One of the most efficient dye-sensitized solar cells produced to date employs the dye-sensitizer N719, a ruthenium polypyridyl thiocyanate complex. Thiocyanate complexes are typically present as an inseparable mixture of N-bound and S-bound linkage isomers. Here we report the synthesis of a new complex, [Ru(terpy)(tbbpy)SCN][SbF6] (terpy = 2,2′;6′, 2′-terpyridine, tbbpy = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine), as a mixture of N-bound and S-bound thiocyanate linkage isomers that can be separated based on their relative solubility in ethanol. Both isomers have been characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallography. At elevated temperatures the isomers equilibrate, the product being significantly enriched in the more thermodynamically stable N-bound form. Density functional theory analysis supports our experimental observation that the N-bound isomer is thermodynamically preferred, and provides insight into the isomerization mechanism. © 2011 American Chemical Society.
Publication Title
Inorganic Chemistry
Recommended Citation
Brewster, T., Ding, W., Schley, N., Hazari, N., Batista, V., & Crabtree, R. (2011). Thiocyanate linkage isomerism in a ruthenium polypyridyl complex. Inorganic Chemistry, 50 (23), 11938-11946. https://doi.org/10.1021/ic200950e
