Transition from a Metal‐Localized Mixed‐Valence Compound to a Fully Delocalized and Bridge‐Biased Electrophore in a Ruthenium–Amine–Ruthenium Tricenter System

Abstract

A series of cyclometalated diruthenium complexes with a redox-active amine bridge were synthesized. Depending on the terminal ligands of the ruthenium components and the substituent on the amine unit, the one-electron-oxidized state can be either in the form of a weakly or strongly coupled mixed-valence diruthenium complex, a fully charge-delocalized three-center system, or a bridge-biased electrophore. This transition among different electronic forms was supported by electrochemistry, near-infrared absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, and density functional theory analysis.