[Ru(bpy)3](PF6)2 , where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, can be prepared by reduction of RuCl3xH2O in a reducing solvent such as ethanol or with a reducing agent, isolated as the chloride salt and then metathesized to yield the PF6- salt.  The electronic properties can be examined by visible/UV spectroscopy, emission spectroscopy and electrochemistry.  The visible/UV spectrum contains intense metal-to-ligand charge transfer and intraligand transitions and their absorption coefficients can be determined by Beer's law.  The emission spectrum contains vibrational structure consistent with an IR ring breathing mode.  The molecule undergoes oxidation at the metal center and sequential reduction of the ligands which can be demonstrated by electrochemistry measurements.  From the proton NMR spectrum of the complex, one can assign the proton resonances to their locations on the aromatic rings and compare them to those of the uncomplexed bipyridine ligands.  This is an upper inorganic chemistry laboratory experiment, but aspects can be adapted for other sub disciplines as well.

Physical and photophysical properties of [Ru(bpy)3](PF6)2: An advanced inorganic chemistry experiment

244th National Meeting (2012)

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