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Ruthenium (II) polypyridine complexes in general have been extensively studied because of their unique redox and photochemical properties. A typical example of such complexes is tris(2,2’-bipyridyl) ruthenium (II). In this study, this complex was synthesized and then characterized using electronic spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. It was also shown that the ruthenium concentration could be accurately determined using ICP-MS. It was found that the complex is very stable in various chemical environments. It was observed from spectrophotometric investigations that persulphate and lead dioxide easily oxidize Ru(bpy)3 2+ to Ru(bpy)3 3+ in the presence of heat and H2SO4, respectively. It was also observed that the oxidation between Ru(bpy)3 2+ and cerium (IV) occurred at approximately 3:2 [Ce(IV)]/[Ru(II)] mole ratio. The resultant Ru(bpy)3 3+ solution was unstable in the presence of light and recovery of Ru(bpy)3 2+ occurred gradually. The regeneration of Ru(bpy)3 2+ from Ru(bpy)3 3+ was found to be a multistep process, which appears to involve the formation of an intermediate species. The following reaction model was found to best explain the kinetic data obtained: Ru(bpy)3 2+ + Ce(IV) → Ru(bpy)3 3+ Ru(bpy)3 3+ → Ru(bpy)3 2+ Ru(bpy)3 3+ → Ru* intermediate Ru* intermediate → Ru(bpy)3 2+ Theoretical rate constants were also calculated for the same process under the experimental conditions. The comparison between the experimental and theoretical results gave good agreement. In addition, the factors that influence the rate of the regeneration of Ru(bpy)3 2+ from Ru(bpy)3 3+ were also discussed.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

An iodine surface layer has been prepared on Ru(poly) and Ru(0001) electrodes by exposure to iodine vapor in UHV and polarizing in a 0.1 M HClO4/0.005 M KI solution, respectively. A saturation coverage of I on a Ru(poly) electrode passivates the Ru surface against significant hydroxide, chemisorbed oxygen or oxide formation during exposure to water vapor over an electrochemical cell in a UHV-electrochemistry transfer system. Immersion of I-Ru(poly) results in greater hydroxide and chemisorbed oxygen formation than water vapor exposure, but an inhibition of surface oxide formation relative that of the unmodified Ru(poly) surface is still observed. Studies with combined electrochemical and XPS techniques show that the iodine surface adlayer remained on top of the surface after cycles of overpotential electrodeposition/dissolution of copper on both Ru(poly) and Ru(0001) electrodes. These results indicate the potential bifunctionality of iodine layer to both passivate the Ru surface in the microelectronic processing and to act as a surfactant for copper electrodeposition. The electrodeposition of Cu on Ru(0001) or polycrystalline Ru was studied using XPS with combined ultrahigh vacuum/electrochemistry methodology (UHV-EC) in 0.1 M HClO4 with Cu(ClO4)2 concentrations ranging from 0.005 M to 0.0005 M, and on polycrystalline Ru in a 0.05M H2SO4/0.005 M CuSO4/0.001 M NaCl solution. The electrochemical data show well-defined cyclic voltammograms (CV) with a Cu underpotential deposition (UPD) peak and overpotential deposition (OPD) peak. XPS spectra of Ru electrodes emersed from perchloric acid solution at cathodic potentials indicate that ClO4- anions dissociate to yield specifically adsorbed Cl and ClOx species. Subsequent Cu deposition results in the formation of a thin, insoluble Cu(II) film with Cu(I) underneath. In contrast, similar deposition on polycrystalline Ru in the sulfuric acid/Cu sulfate solution with NaCl added yields only Cu(0), indicating that the formation of Cu(II) and Cu(I) involves both Cl and perchlorate interactions with the deposited Cu. A pre-adsorbed layer of iodine on the Ru(0001) surface inhibits perchlorate dissociation in iodide-free electrolyte and leads to the deposition of Cu(0) in the perchlorate bath. XPS depth profile analysis demonstrates that the iodine monolayer "floats" on top of the deposited film, in agreement with previous results, effectively protecting the Cu film from air oxidation.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of St Andrews, October 2008.

M.Sc. (Chemistry) / The main aim of this study was to use pyrazolyl-based bi-and tri-dentate ligands in the synthesis of several p-cymene-ruthenium complexes. These ruthenium complexes and their corresponding ligands were subsequently tested for their anticancer and antimalarial activities...

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy