Electron Delocalization in Ethynyl‐Bridged Binuclear Ruthenium(<scp>II</scp>) Polypyridine Complexes

Abstract

The triplet lifetimes of the ethynyl-bridged binuclear RuII complexes 1 (m = 0, 1; n = 1, 2) are significantly longer than that of the parent mononuclear complex, despite much lower triplet energies. This effect, which arises from electron delocalization over an extended π* orbital, decreases upon removal of the second RuII cation or if phenyl rings are incorporated into the π-electron system. Counterion: PF.