Session: Bioinorganic Chemistry:

Ruthenium (II) polypyridyl complexes have versatile applications in various fields of science such as energy conversion, medicinal applications, catalysis, and as photosensitizers for photochemical therapy (PCT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). PCT and PDT utilize red light absorption of the ruthenium (II) complexes to change non-toxic character to toxic character, and this is useful in creating spatial targeting when used in a biological system such as the human body for cancer treatment. The ground state absorption, along with other photophysical properties, can be adjusted by changes in the ligands present on the ruthenium (II) complex. This project focuses on six model ruthenium (II) complexes which all contain a tridentate ligand – either either tpy (2,2’;6’,2”terpyridine) or dqpy (2,6-di(quinoline-2- yl)pyridine), and a bidentate acetylacetonate (acac) based ligand with different substituents on the bridging carbon and on the terminal methyl groups. The goal of the project is to identify the effect of different acac-based ligands on excited state lifetimes, and other photophysical properties of these complexes.

Claudia Turro

Appearances