Intervalence charge transfer in the stereoisomers of a dinuclear ruthenium complex containing the bridging ligand dibenzoeilatin

The dinuclear species [{Ru(bpy)2}2(mu-dbneil)](4+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; dbneil = dibenzoeilatin) was separated into its three stereoisomeric forms by cation-exchange chromatographic techniques. The NMR characteristics of the two diastereoisomers (meso and rac) are very similar, consistent with the decreased anisotropic interactions between the terminal bpy ligands located on different ruthenium centres because of their large spatial separation. Spectroelectrochemical measurements of the IVCT transitions in the mixed valence (5+) species show the system to be in the class II-III regime with substantial electronic communication between the metal centres. There is no significant difference in IVCT behaviour between the two diastereoisomers.