Electropolymerisable bipyridine ruthenium(II) complexes.: Synthesis and electrochemical characterisation of 4-(3-methoxystyryl)- and 4,4′-di(3-methoxystyryl)-2,2′-bipyridine ruthenium complexes

A number of new ruthenium polypyridyl complexes with mono- or di-(3-methoxystyryl) substituted bipyridines have been synthesized. The complexes were characterised by NMR, elemental analysis, UV-vis absorption and emission spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Electroactive polymer films of these complexes have been prepared both by oxidative and reductive electropolymerisation. The polymers have been characterised by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Possible processes involved in the polymerisation and the structure of the film are discussed.