Photochromic ruthenium sulfoxide complexes: evidence for isomerization through a conical intersection.

The complexes [Ru(bpy)(2)(OS)](PF(6)) and [Ru(bpy)(2)(OSO)](PF(6)), where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, OS is 2-methylthiobenzoate, and OSO is 2-methylsulfinylbenzoate, have been studied. The electrochemical and photochemical reactivity of [Ru(bpy)(2)(OSO)](+) is consistent with an isomerization of the bound sulfoxide from S-bonded (S-) to O-bonded (O-) following irradiation or electrochemical oxidation. Charge transfer excitation of [Ru(bpy)(2)(OSO)](+) in MeOH results in the appearance of two new metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) maxima at 355 and 496 nm, while the peak at 396 nm diminishes in intensity.

Subnanosecond isomerization in an osmium-dimethyl sulfoxide complex.

We report the structure, spectroscopy, and electrochemistry of cis-[Os(bpy)(2)(DMSO)(2)](OTf)(2), where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, DMSO is dimethyl sulfoxide, and OTf is trifluoromethanesulfonate. Electrochemical measurements are consistent with S-to-O isomerization following the oxidation of Os(2+) (1.8 V vs Ag/AgCl).

Room-temperature photochromism in cis- and trans-[Ru(bpy)2(dmso)2]2+.

We report on phototriggered Ru-S --> Ru-O and thermal Ru-O --> Ru-S intramolecular linkage isomerizations in cis- and trans-[Ru(bpy)2(dmso)2]2+. The cis complex features only S-bonded sulfoxides (cis-[S,S]), whereas the trans isomer is characterized by S- and O-bonded dmso ligands. Both cis-[S,S] and trans-[S,O] exhibit photochromism at room temperature in dmso solution and ionic liquid (IL).