RESUMO
A new N,N'-bidentate ligand, 2-(3-isobutoxyanilino)pyridine (H(i)BuOap), was introduced and used as the ancillary ligand to support highly soluble diruthenium compounds. Thus, the new compounds Ru(2)((i)BuOap)(4)Cl (1), Ru(2)((i)BuOap)(4)(C[triple bond]CPh) (2), Ru(2)((i)BuOap)(4)(C[triple bond]CPh)(2) (3), and Ru(2)((i)BuOap)(4)(C[triple bond]CSi(i)Pr(3)) (4) were prepared and characterized by both voltammetric and spectroscopic methods, and their physical properties were found to be quite similar to those of the previously reported Ru(2)(ap)(4)-based compounds. The spectroscopic properties of both anionic and cationic derivatives of compounds 2 and 3 were examined with spectroelectrochemistry. Density functional theory calculations performed on model compounds of 2 and 3 provide an in-depth picture of the electronic structures of Ru(2)(ap)(4)-based alkynyl compounds and assignment of the observed electronic transitions.