Photochromic compounds have been employed in technologies ranging from optical data storage and manipulation to controlling biological activity. Notably, photoisomerizing ruthenium sulfoxides promise diverse applications, especially acting as candidates for the development of novel energy storage methodologies and having been demonstrated to impart photomechanical functionality in polymer films through covalent incorporation in the polymer. Investigating the photochemistry of relevant isomerizing complexes is critical to further development of functional and practical materials. Ultrafast 3-color pump-pump-probe spectroscopy has been developed and utilized to investigate the metastable ground states accessible in promising photoisomerizing ruthenium sulfoxide complexes. The observed photochemistry of the model complex, [Ru(bpy)2(bpSO)]2+, where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine and bpSO is 1,2-bis(phenylsulfinyl)ethane, is reported. The observed time constants for the respective [S,S] ? [S,O] and [S,O] ? [O,O] isomerizations are ~ 60 ps and ground state formation is complete within ~ 150 ps, representing the fastest observed isomerization of a metal sulfoxide.

Sequential picosecond isomerization in a photochromic ruthenium sulfoxide complex triggered by 3-color pump-pump-probe spectroscopy

245th National Meeting (2013)

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