Electron localisation in electrochemically reduced mono- and bi-nuclear rhenium(I) complexes with bridged polypyridyl ligands

Article abstract of DOI:10.1039/b110730p

A number of mono- and bi-nuclear rhenium(I) complexes have been prepared and their physical properties, including the infrared spectra of the reduced complexes, have been studied. These compounds have the general formula [Re(CO)₃Cl(L)] and [Cl(CO)₃Re(μ-L)Re(CO)₃Cl], where L can be 2,3-(2′,2″)-diquinolylquinoxaline, 6,7-dimethyl-2,3-(2′,2″)-diquinolylquinoxaline, 2,3-(2′,2″)-diquinolylbenzoquinoxaline, 6,7-dichloro-2,3-(2′,2″)-diquinolylquinoxaline, 2,3-(2′,2″)-diquinoxalylquinoxaline, 6,7-dimethyl-2,3-(2′,2″)-diquinoxalylquinoxaline, 2,3-(2′,2″)-diquinoxalylbenzoquinoxaline and 6,7-dichloro-2,3-(2′,2″)-diquinoxalylquinoxaline. The electrochemical studies show that the first reduction potential of the free ligands correlates with the reductions of the corresponding mono- and bi-nuclear complexes. The properties of the complexes have been modelled using semi-empirical methods. These show linear correlations between: (a) the energy of the MLCT transitions versus the difference in energy between the LUMO and the HOMO and (b) the change in carbonyl force constant with reduction vs. the wavefunction amplitude of the π* LUMO at the site of coordination. The experimental data and calculations point to significant alterations in the π* LUMO with substitution at the ligand and with the chelation of a second Re(I) center.