Photoinduced electron transfer from tryptophan to Ru(II)TAP complexes: the primary process for photo-cross-linking with oligopeptides.

The photoreaction mechanism of [Ru(TAP)(2)(phen)](2+) and [Ru(TAP)(3)](2+) (TAP = 1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene) with tryptophan (Trp), N-acetyl-Trp, and Lys-Trp-Lys is examined. The existence of a photoelectron-transfer process from the amino acid unit is demonstrated by laser flash photolysis experiments. The back electron transfer (BET) from the reduced complex to the oxidized amino acid, occurring at the microsecond time scale, corresponds approximately to an equimolecular-bimolecular process; however, it is disturbed by another reaction, originating from the oxidized Trp.

Synthesis, characterization, electrochemical and photophysical properties of elbow-shaped trinuclear Ru(II) complexes, building blocks for novel supramolecular constructions.

Three trinuclear elbow-shaped Ru(II) complexes based on the non symmetrical bridging PHEHAT ligand (PHEHAT = 1,10-phenanthrolino[5,6-b]-1,4,5,8,9,12-hexaazatriphenylene) have been prepared and characterized by NMR, electrochemistry, absorption and emission spectroscopy. It is shown that the dichloro trinuclear complex 1 should behave as an excellent precursor for the synthesis of larger species. Indeed, it reacts easily with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene (TAP) and leads to the trinuclear compounds 2 and 3, respectively.

[Ru(phen)2(PHEHAT)]2+ and [Ru(phen)2(HATPHE)]2+: two ruthenium(II) complexes with the same ligands but different photophysics and spectroelectrochemistry.

The properties of two mononuclear Ru(II) complexes formed with the extended planar ligand PHEHAT depend drastically on the chelation site by the metallic ion. When the chelation takes place on the HAT site of the ligand (case of the novel complex [Ru(phen)2(HATPHE)]2+), the emission behavior is quite similar to that of [Ru(phen)2(HAT)]2+. In contrast, when the chelation is on the phen motif of the ligand (case of [Ru(phen)2(PHEHAT)]2+), the spectroscopic (absorption and emission) and electrochemical data for the complex do not obey the linear spectroelectrochemical correlation and the emission behavior is comparable to that of the extensively studied dppz complex ([Ru(phen/bpy)2(dppz)]2+).

Adduct formation by photo-induced electron transfer between photo-oxidising Ru(II) complexes and tryptophan.

The (3)MLCT excited state of Ru(II) complexes with 1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene (TAP) ligands in the presence of tryptophan gives rise to an electron transfer process from the amino acid with subsequent formation of an adduct between the two partners, strongly influenced by oxygen.