Unusual phenomenon in the chemistry of orthometalated ruthenium (II) complexes

Yellow cyclometalatated ruthenium (II) complexes [Ru(o-X-2-py)(MeCN)4]PF6 (1, X = C6H4 (a) or 4-MeC6H3 (b)) react readily with 1,10-phenanthroline (LL) in MeCN to give brownish-red species cis-[Ru(o-X-2-py)(LL)(MeCN)2]PF6 in high yields. The same reaction of the same complexes under the same conditions with 2,2′-bipyridine results in a significant color change from yellow to brownish-orange suggesting a formation of new species. Surprisingly, X-ray structural studies of these two complexes showed that they are structurally indistinguishable from the starting complexes 1. Referred to as complexes 4a,b, the new compounds are slightly more stable in the air though their spectral characteristics in solution are similar to 1a,b. The diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is so far the only technique that indicated differences between 1 and 4.