Synthesis, spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization and molecular structure of polypyridyl ruthenium complexes containing 4,40-azobis(pyridine)

New mononuclear and dinuclear polypyridyl ruthenium(II) complexes containing 4,4′- azpy have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic, X-ray diffraction and electrochemical techniques. In the mixed-valent asymmetric complex with pentaammineruthenium(III) as an electron acceptor, a relatively strong metal-metal coupling is disclosed, pointing to possible applications of 4,4′-azpy in “molecular wires”.