A bis-bipyridine osmium(ii) complex with an N,S-chelating 2-aminoethanesulfinate: Photoinduced conversion of an amine to an imine donor group by air oxidation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1039/c1cc14342e

Treatment of [Os(bpy)₂Cl₂] (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) with 2-aminoethanethiolate was accompanied by air oxidation to give [Os(2-aminoethanesulfinato-N,S)(bpy)₂]⁺ ([1]⁺), which was further oxidized by air to be converted into [Os(2-iminoethanesulfinato-N,S)(bpy)₂]⁺ ([2]⁺) under photoirradiation. Complex [2]⁺ was reverted back to [1] ⁺ by treatment with BH₄^-.