[1,10]-Phenanthrolin-2-yl ketones and their coordination chemistry.

A synthetic protocol involving the Friedländer reaction of 8-amino-7-quinolinecarbaldehyde followed by potassium dichromate oxidation was applied to 2,3,4-pentanetrione-3-oxime and 1-(pyrid-2'-yl)propane-1,2-dione-1-oxime to provide the ligands di-(phenathrolin-2-yl)-methanone (1) and phenanthrolin-2-yl-pyrid-2-yl-methanone (8), respectively. Ligand 1 complexed as a planar tetradentate with Pd(II) to form [Pd(1)](BF4)2 and with Ru(II) and two 4-substituted pyridines (4-R-py) to form [Ru(1)(4-R-py)2](PF6)2 where R = CF3, CH3, and Me2N. With [Ru(bpy)2Cl2], the dinuclear complex [(bpy)2Ru(1)Ru(bpy)2](PF6)4 was formed (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). Ligand 8 afforded the homoleptic Ru(II) complex [Ru(8)2](PF6)2, as well as the heteroleptic complex [Ru(8)(tpy)](PF6)2 (tpy = 2,2';6,2''-terpyridine). The ligands and complexes were characterized by their NMR and IR spectra, as well as an X-ray structure determination of [Ru(1)(4-CH3-py)2](PF6)2. Electrochemical analysis indicated metal-based oxidation and ligand-based reduction that was consistent with results from electronic absorption spectra. The complexes [Ru(1)(4-R-py)2](PF6)2 were sensitive to the 4-substituent on the axial pyridine: electron donor groups facilitated the oxidation while electron-withdrawing groups impeded it.