Photophysics of ruthenium(II) complexes carrying amino acids in the ligand 2,2′-bipyridine and intramolecular electron transfer from methionine to photogenerated Ru(III)

New ruthenium(II) complexes carrying methionine and phenylalanine in the bipyridine ligand, [Ru(bpy)2(4-Me-4′-(CONH-l-methionine methyl ester)-2,2′-bipyridine)](PF6)2 (IV) and [Ru(bpy)2(4-Me-4′-(CONH-l-phenylalanine ethyl ester)-2,2′-bpy)](PF6)2(V) have been synthesized and characterized and their photophysical properties studied. Flash photolysis measurements of complex IV, in the presence of an electron acceptor, methyl viologen (MV2+) show that an intermolecular electron transfer from the excited state of Ru(II) in complex IV, to MV2+ takes place, forming Ru(III) and the methyl viologen cation radical, MV+radical dot. The formation of MV+radical dot in this system is confirmed using time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. This intermolecular electron transfer is followed by intramolecular electron transfer from the thioether moiety (methionine) to the photogenerated Ru(III), regenerating Ru(II).