Influence of polystyrenesulfonate on electron transfer quenching of ruthenium trisbipyridine luminescence by viologens: non-covalent assembly and covalent tethering of the ruthenium complex.

A new copolymer (RuB-PSS) of ruthenium(II)bis-(2,2'-bipyridine)(4-vinyl 2,2'-bipyridine) and styrene sulfonate was prepared which tethers the ruthenium chromophore directly to the polymer backbone. The photophysical properties of the copolymer, and its luminescence quenching by viologens, were compared with those of ruthenium(II)tris-bipyridine, [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+), bound non-covalently to polystyrenesulfonate (PSS) via hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Enhancement of ruthenium polypyridyl complex luminescence in both systems is due to decreased rates of non-radiative decay when removed from bulk water as well as reduced oxygen quenching.