Photochromic and electrochromic properties of oxo-centred triruthenium compounds with a dithienylethene bis(phosphine) ligand.

The reaction of 1,2-bis(5-(diphenylphosphino)-2-methylthien-3-yl) cyclopentene (PPh(2)-DTE-PPh(2)) with the triruthenium cluster precursor [Ru(3)O(OAc)(6)(py)(2)(CH(3)OH)](PF(6)) (1) gave monomeric or dimeric derivatives [Ru(3)O(OAc)(6)(py)(2){PPh(2)-DTE-PPh(2)}](PF(6)) ([2]PF(6)) and [{Ru(3)O(OAc)(6)(py)(2)}(2){mu-PPh(2)-DTE-PPh(2)}](PF(6))(2) ([3]PF(6)). Reduction of [2](+) and [3](2+) afforded one- or two-electron-reduced neutral products Ru(3)O(OAc)(6)(py)(2){PPh(2)-DTE-PPh(2)} (2) and {Ru(3)O(OAc)(6)(py)(2)}(2){mu-PPh(2)-DTE-PPh(2)} ()3, respectively. These triruthenium complexes show remarkable photochromism through photochemical ring-closing (UV light irradiation) and ring-opening (Vis light irradiation) processes as well as electrochromic properties through oxidation/reduction in the triruthenium cluster. Both the photochromic and electrochromic properties of 2 and 3 are highly reversible.