The goal of this research was to develop a series of mixed-metal supramolecular complexes through systematic component variation to better understand the role of structural modification on basic chemical and photochemical properties including photocatalysis of H₂O to H₂. Varying bidentate polypyridyl terminal ligands (TL), non-chromophoric halides (X), or number of Ru(II) light absorbers (LA) tunes the electrochemical, spectroscopic, photophysical, and photochemical properties within the supramolecular architecture. Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) trimetallics of the design [{(TL)₂Ru(dpp)}₂RhX₂](PF₆)₅ (TL = phen = 1,10-phenanthroline or Ph₂phen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline; dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine; X = Cl⁻ or Br⁻) covalently couple two Ru(II) LAs to a central Rh(III) electron collector (EC) through dpp polyazine bridging ligands (BL). Ru(II),Rh(III) bimetallics of the design [(TL)₂Ru(dpp)RhCl₂(TL′)](PF₆)₃ (TL = Ph₂phen or bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; TL′ = Ph₂phen or tBu2bpy = 4,4′-Di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine) couple only one Ru(II) LA to a Rh(III) metal center through the dpp BL. The Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) trimetallic and Ru(II),Rh(III) bimetallic complexes are synthesized using a building block approach, permitting facile modification of the supramolecular architecture throughout molecular assembly. Electrochemical analysis of both architectures displays a Ru-based HOMO tuned by TL identity (RuII/III = +1.62 V and +1.58 V vs. Ag/AgCl for TL = phen and Ph₂phen, respectively) and a Rh-based LUMO tuned by X identity (RhIII/II/I = -0.35 V and -0.32 V vs. Ag/AgCl for X = Cl⁻ and Br⁻, respectively). Modification of TL′ at Rh(III) within the bimetallics provided varying LUMO identity. The trimetallics and bimetallics are efficient light absorbers throughout the UV and visible with π⟶ π* intraligand (IL) transitions in the UV and Ru(dπ)⟶ligand(π*) metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions in the visible. While X identity does not vary the light absorbing properties within Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) trimetallics, TL identity and the number of Ru(II) LAs strongly impacts spectral coverage and the extinction coefficient. Photoexcitation of the Ru(dπ)⟶dpp(π*) ¹MLCT results in near unity population of the weakly emissive, short-lived Ru(dπ)⟶dpp(π*) ³MLCT excited state, which is efficiently quenched by intramolecular electron transfer to populate a non-emissive Ru(dπ)⟶Rh(dσ*) metal-to-metal charge transfer (³MMCT) excited state. Photolysis of the complexes in the presence of the sacrificial electron donor N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) results in multi-electron collection at Rh, thereby converting Rh(III) to Rh(II) to Rh(I) accompanied by halide loss at each step. This establishes the Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) and Ru(II),Rh(III) complexes as photochemical molecule devices (PMD) for photoinitiated electron collection (PEC). The ability of these systems to undergo multiple redox cycles, absorb light efficiently, populate photoreactive excited states, and collect electrons at a reactive Rh metal center fulfills the requirements for H₂O reduction photocatalysts. Photolysis of trimetallic or bimetallic complexes at 470 nm in the presence of DMA and H₂O substrate yields photocatalytic H2 production. Within [{(TL)₂Ru(dpp)}₂RhX₂]⁵⁺ trimetallics (TL = phen or Ph₂phen; X = Cl⁻ or Br⁻), varying the TL from phen to Ph₂phen and X from Cl⁻ to Br⁻ yielded the most active and robust photocatalyst with [{(Ph₂phen)₂Ru(dpp)}₂RhBr₂]⁵⁺ producing 44 ± 6 mL H₂, 610 ± 90 mol H₂/mol Rh catalyst, and 7.3% maximum quantum efficiency (max. ΦH₂) in a DMF solvent system after 20 h photolysis. The proposed mechanism of PEC suggests bimetallic systems might be prepared that are active photocatalysts. Ru(II),Rh(III) bimetallics are synthetically more challenging and the energetic proximity of dpp(π*) and Rh(dσ*) orbitals make electronic tuning with steric protection of the photogenerated Rh(I) difficult. Within [(TL)₂Ru(dpp)RhCl₂(TL′)]³⁺ bimetallics (TL = Ph₂phen or bpy; TL′ = Ph₂phen or tBu₂bpy), a careful balance of steric and electronic effects was required to produce active photocatalysts. The bimetallic [(Ph₂phen)₂Ru(dpp)RhCl₂(Ph₂phen)]³⁺ produces 1.1 ± 0.07 mL H₂, 81 ± 5 TON, and 0.88% max. ΦH₂ in a DMF solvent system after 20 h photolysis. This establishes the [(Ph₂phen)₂Ru(dpp)RhCl₂(Ph₂phen)]³⁺ complex as the first Ru(II),Rh(III) bimetallic to function as a homogeneous single-component H₂O reduction photocatalyst. This dissertation reports the detailed analysis of the electrochemical, spectroscopic, photophysical, and photocatalytic properties of [{(TL)₂Ru(dpp)}₂RhX₂]⁵⁺ trimetallic (TL = phen or Ph₂phen; X = Cl or Br) and [(TL)₂Ru(dpp)RhCl₂(TL′)]³⁺ bimetallic (TL = Ph₂phen or bpy; TL′ = Ph₂phen or tBu₂bpy) supramolecular complexes. The design of the molecular architecture and the intrinsic properties of each component contribute to the overall function and efficiency of these systems. The careful design, meticulous synthesis and purification, detailed characterizations, and methodical experimentation have led to an in-depth understanding of the properties and factors needed for more efficient photocatalytic reduction of H₂O to H₂. / Ph. D.

No description available.

This dissertation investigates Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) based techniques to study the impact of molecular structure on conformation and binding energetics. A novel method to determine collison cross sectional areas using FTICR (CRAFTI), initially developed by the Dearden lab, was applied to study the conformations of molecular systems with unique structural attributes in an attempt to explore the molecular range of CRAFTI. The systems chosen for CRAFTI studies include crown-ether alkylammonium complexes and biogenic amino acids. The results were found to be consistent with expected behavior, and strongly correlated with experimental measurements made using ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and predictions from computations. The analytical sensitivity of CRAFTI was highlighted by its ability to distinguish the normal and branched structural isomers of butylamine. Besides conformation characterization, quantitative evaluation of binding was undertaken on metal ion-cryptand complexes on the FTICR instrument using sustained off-resonance irradiation-collision-induced dissociation (SORI CID) method. Complex formation and dissociation was found to be a strong function of both guest and host sizes which impacted steric selectivity, and polarizability. The results demonstrate the ability of FTICR to simultaneously determine structure, conformation and binding thereby providing comprehensive molecular characterization.

In my dissertation, I use a Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometer (FTICR-MS) to investigate supramolecules. Cross-sectional areas by Fourier transform ICR (CRAFTI), a novel technique for measurements of collision cross sections by FTICR, is demonstrated for the first time. The CRAFTI method measures the total "dephasing cross section" for removal of the ions from the coherent packet in the FTICR cell, including contributions not only from momentum transfer but also from reactive collisions including those leading to collisional dissociation. Experimental CRAFTI collision cross sections correlate linearly with theoretically computed results and with results obtained using ion mobility measurements. Different collision gases, including Xe, N2, Ar, and SF6, are all appropriate for the CRAFTI technique when the experiments are done at proper kinetic energies. The CRAFTI technique was applied to characterize the molecular shape of complexes of alkyl mono- and n-alkyldiamine with cucurbit[n]uril in the gas phase. The CRAFTI results are consistent with corresponding computational geometries. The CRAFTI technique was combined with SORI-CID (sustained off-resonance irradiation collision induced dissociation) for characterization of complexes of α,ω-alkyldiammonium with cucurbit[n]urils (n=5, 7 and 8) and cucurbituril derivatives. The results demonstrate that for bigger cucurbiturils, the complexes have the alkyldiamine tails threaded through the cavity of the host; for smaller cucurbiturils, the complexes have the tails of the alklydiamines external to the portal of the host.Capping molecules for larger CBn to form larger containers were also investigated. Using SORI-CID methods, CB7, a bigger cucurbituril cage, was found to form a more stable complex with Gu+ (guanidinium). Several neutral guests (benzene, fluorobenzene and toluene) were trapped in CB7 cavity to form inclusion complexes.

In this dissertation, I used Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR) and ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) to study the structure and energetics of supramolecular complex ions in the gas phase. Using the CRAFTI (cross sectional areas by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance) technique developed by Dearden’s lab we observed that complexes with alkali cations capping the portals of cucurbit[5]uril (CB[5]) bind halide anions size-selectively in the gas phase. Our data suggest that Cl– binds inside the CB[5] cavity, Br– binds both inside (with Na+ions capping the portals of CB[5]) and outside (when K+caps CB[5]), and I– binds weakly outside. Although geometry optimization at the M06-2X/6-31+G* level of ab initio theory suggests internal anion binding is energetically favored over external binding, we believe the externally-bound complexes observed experimentally must be due to large energetic barriers hindering the passing of large anions through the CB[5] portal, preventing access to the interior. Calculation of the barriers to anion egress using MMFF//M06-2X/6-31+G* theory supports this idea. Collision cross section (CCS) measurements using the CRAFTI method for CB[5] complexes with various alkali metals and different neutral guests (methanol, ethanol, formic acid, and acetonitrile) along with the results of mass spectra from FTICR show that both the sizes and the resulting charge densities of the alkali metal ions affect the relative tendency of the guests to bind inside CB[5]. The CCS values suggest that methanol, formic acid, and acetonitrile are internally bound CB[5] while ethanol is bound outside the CB[5] host. The relative abundances of the paired peaks in the obtained mass spectra indicate that the inclusion of formic acid and methanol are enhanced when K+ ions cap the complexes, whereas the inclusion of acetonitrile is enhanced when Cs+ ions cap the complexes. The relative abundance of ethanol complexes increases when Na+ ions cap the complexes. CRAFTI CCS values for singly- and doubly-charged cucurbit[n]uril (n = 5, 6, and 7), decamethylcucurbit[5]uril (mc5), and cyclohexanocucurbit[5]uril (CB*[5]) complexes of alkali metal cations (Li+-Cs+) show +2 complex ions have CCS values ranging between 94-105% of those of their +1 counterparts (increasing with metal ion size). These results are consistent with CCS values were calculated using the projection approximation (PA). Ion mobility measurements of the same complexes find the CCS of +2 complexes to be in all cases 9-12% larger than those of the corresponding +1 complexes, with little metal ion dependence. Trajectory method (TM) calculations of CCS for the same structures consistently yield values 7-10% larger for the +2 complexes than for the corresponding +1 complexes and little metal ion dependence which agrees with experimental values.

A síntese, caracterização e propriedades fotofísicas e fotoquímicas de uma série de meso-(fenilpiridil)porfirinas, com n substituintes fenila e 4-n substituintes piridina (n = 1 a 4), e as respectivas espécies supermoleculares obtidas pela coordenação de complexos [Ru(2,2\'-bipy)2Cl]+ aos nitrogênios piridínicos, são descritos. Os resultados dos estudos espectroscópicos e eletroquímicos foram consistentes com as estruturas propostas. Foi constatada a ocorrência de processo de transferência de energia do estado MLCT3 dos complexos periféricos para o estado singlete da porfirina em vidro de etanol, e para o estado triplete a 25°C. Esses resultados sugerem que o estado excitado MLCT3 está energeticamente acima do estado S1, a 77 K, e existe uma interação eletrônica significativa entre os complexos de rutênio e o anel porfirínico. A temperatura ambiente, a transferência de energia para o estado singlete da porfirina é ineficiente devido a rápida desativação não radiativa do estado MLCT3. Esse fato foi confirmado pelo espectro de excitação, que reproduz apenas as bandas de absorção da porfirina. O rendimento quântico de fluorescência da porfirina sofre uma diminuição bastante pronunciada quando em presença de O2 dissolvido, que parecem ser inversamente proporcionais ao número de substituintes piridina. Além disso, o tempo de vida, a constante de velocidade de supressão pelo O2 e o rendimento quântico de formação de oxigênio singlete a partir da espécie no estado triplete T1, parecem não ser influenciados pelo número de complexos [Ru(bipy)2Cl]+ coordenados ao anel porfirínico. Nenhuma fotodecomposição foi observada durante os experimentos. Os rendimentos quânticos de oxigênio singlete (~O,5) obtidos para as porfirinas supermoleculares são comparável ao de outros fotossensibilizadores porfirínicos utilizados em estudos de terapia fotodinâmica. Logo, a estratégia de se introduzir complexos de rutênio bipiridina como modificadores das propriedades das meso(fenilpiridil)porfirinas, e também como novos sítios de interação, por exemplo, com biomoléculas, parece ser adequada para a preparação de novos sensibilizadores supramoleculares. / The preparation, characterization and photophysical and photochemical properties of a series of meso-(phenylpyridyl)porphyrins, with n phenyl and 4n pyridyl substituents (n =1 to 4), and the respective supermolecular species obtained by the coordination of [Ru{2,2\'-bipy)2Cl]+ complexes to the pyridine nitrogen atoms, are described. The results of the spectroscopic and electrochemical studies were consistent . with the proposed molecular structures. The occurrence of energy transfer processes from the MLCT3 state of the peripheral ruthenium complexes to the porphyrin singlet state in ethanol glass, and to the triplet state at room temperature, were observed. These strongly suggest that the excited MLCT3 state is energetically above the porphyrin S1 state (77 K), and that there is a sufficiently strong electronic interaction between the ruthenium complexes and the porphyrin ring. The energy transfer from MLCT3 to the porphyrin S1 state is inefficient at room temperature, because ofthe fast non-radiactive deactivation of that excited state. This was confirmed by the excitation spectra, that exhibited only the absorption bands ofthe porphyrin moiety. The fluorescence quantum yield of the porphyrin is decreased in presence of dissolved O2, and this behavior seems to be inversely proportional to the number of pyridyl substituents. Furthermore, the lifetime, the quenching rate constant by 02 and the singlet oxygen quantum yields for the porphyrin triplet state, seems to be independent of the number of [Ru(bipy)2Cl]+ complexes coordinated to the ring. No photodecomposition were observed during the above experiments. The singlet oxygen quantum yields (~O,5) determined for the supermolecular porphyrins are comparable to that of other porphyrin type photosensitizers used in studies on photodynamic terapy. Consequently, the strategy of coordinating ruthenium bipyridyl complexes as modifiers ofthe meso-(phenylpyridyl)porphyrins and also as new interaction sites, for example for biomolecules, seems adequate for the preparation of new supermolecular photosensitizers.

A síntese, caracterização e propriedades fotofísicas e fotoquímicas de uma série de meso-(fenilpiridil)porfirinas, com n substituintes fenila e 4-n substituintes piridina (n = 1 a 4), e as respectivas espécies supermoleculares obtidas pela coordenação de complexos [Ru(2,2\'-bipy)2Cl]+ aos nitrogênios piridínicos, são descritos. Os resultados dos estudos espectroscópicos e eletroquímicos foram consistentes com as estruturas propostas. Foi constatada a ocorrência de processo de transferência de energia do estado MLCT3 dos complexos periféricos para o estado singlete da porfirina em vidro de etanol, e para o estado triplete a 25°C. Esses resultados sugerem que o estado excitado MLCT3 está energeticamente acima do estado S1, a 77 K, e existe uma interação eletrônica significativa entre os complexos de rutênio e o anel porfirínico. A temperatura ambiente, a transferência de energia para o estado singlete da porfirina é ineficiente devido a rápida desativação não radiativa do estado MLCT3. Esse fato foi confirmado pelo espectro de excitação, que reproduz apenas as bandas de absorção da porfirina. O rendimento quântico de fluorescência da porfirina sofre uma diminuição bastante pronunciada quando em presença de O2 dissolvido, que parecem ser inversamente proporcionais ao número de substituintes piridina. Além disso, o tempo de vida, a constante de velocidade de supressão pelo O2 e o rendimento quântico de formação de oxigênio singlete a partir da espécie no estado triplete T1, parecem não ser influenciados pelo número de complexos [Ru(bipy)2Cl]+ coordenados ao anel porfirínico. Nenhuma fotodecomposição foi observada durante os experimentos. Os rendimentos quânticos de oxigênio singlete (~O,5) obtidos para as porfirinas supermoleculares são comparável ao de outros fotossensibilizadores porfirínicos utilizados em estudos de terapia fotodinâmica. Logo, a estratégia de se introduzir complexos de rutênio bipiridina como modificadores das propriedades das meso(fenilpiridil)porfirinas, e também como novos sítios de interação, por exemplo, com biomoléculas, parece ser adequada para a preparação de novos sensibilizadores supramoleculares. / The preparation, characterization and photophysical and photochemical properties of a series of meso-(phenylpyridyl)porphyrins, with n phenyl and 4n pyridyl substituents (n =1 to 4), and the respective supermolecular species obtained by the coordination of [Ru{2,2\'-bipy)2Cl]+ complexes to the pyridine nitrogen atoms, are described. The results of the spectroscopic and electrochemical studies were consistent . with the proposed molecular structures. The occurrence of energy transfer processes from the MLCT3 state of the peripheral ruthenium complexes to the porphyrin singlet state in ethanol glass, and to the triplet state at room temperature, were observed. These strongly suggest that the excited MLCT3 state is energetically above the porphyrin S1 state (77 K), and that there is a sufficiently strong electronic interaction between the ruthenium complexes and the porphyrin ring. The energy transfer from MLCT3 to the porphyrin S1 state is inefficient at room temperature, because ofthe fast non-radiactive deactivation of that excited state. This was confirmed by the excitation spectra, that exhibited only the absorption bands ofthe porphyrin moiety. The fluorescence quantum yield of the porphyrin is decreased in presence of dissolved O2, and this behavior seems to be inversely proportional to the number of pyridyl substituents. Furthermore, the lifetime, the quenching rate constant by 02 and the singlet oxygen quantum yields for the porphyrin triplet state, seems to be independent of the number of [Ru(bipy)2Cl]+ complexes coordinated to the ring. No photodecomposition were observed during the above experiments. The singlet oxygen quantum yields (~O,5) determined for the supermolecular porphyrins are comparable to that of other porphyrin type photosensitizers used in studies on photodynamic terapy. Consequently, the strategy of coordinating ruthenium bipyridyl complexes as modifiers ofthe meso-(phenylpyridyl)porphyrins and also as new interaction sites, for example for biomolecules, seems adequate for the preparation of new supermolecular photosensitizers.

The production of hydrogen fuel via solar water splitting is an important carbon-neutral strategy for the development of renewable resources and has sparked great interest in the scientific community. Hydrogen production efficiencies for supramolecular photocatalysts of the architecture [{(TL)2Ru(BL)}2RhX2]5+ (BL=bridging ligand, TL=terminal ligand, X=halide) are among the highest reported in deoxygenated organic solvents, but do not function in air-saturated aqueous solution due to quenching of the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited-state under these conditions. Herein, we report the groundbreaking use of polyelectrolytes to increase efficiency of supramolecular photocatalysts in solar hydrogen production schemes under aqueous aerobic conditions. The new photocatalytic system incorporates poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) into aqueous solutions containing [{(bpy)2Ru(dpp)}2RhCl2]5+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine). PSS has a profound impact on photocatalyst efficiency, increasing hydrogen production over three times that of deoxygenated aqueous solutions alone. Hydrogen photocatalysis proceeds even under aerobic conditions for PSS containing solutions, an exciting consequence for solar hydrogen production research. Thermodynamics of binding due to intermolecular interactions between Ru,Rh,Ru photocatalysts and polyelectrolytes was probed using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). ITC studies reveal the driving forces of aggregate formation, providing new insight into the intermolecular forces that lead to increased photocatalytic efficiency and stability in the presence of water soluble polymers. Synthesis and characterization of a novel supramolecular photocatalyst having hydrophilic terminal ligands are reported. Addition of sulfonated terminal ligands into a Ru,Rh,Ru photocatalyst has a significant impact on the excited-state properties of the complex. The new complex demonstrates increased solubility and hydrogen production efficiency in aqueous solutions. Hydrogen production is observed even under aerobic conditions for the new complex, a stark contrast to the hydrophobic analog in organic solvents. The synthesis, characterization, and electropolymerization of a chromophore-catalyst assembly having vinyl-substituted terminal ligands to create robust water reduction photocatalysts on wide-bandgap semiconductors is reported. The polymeric photocatalysts are expected to show increased stability over a wide pH range and increased photostability compared to chromophore-catalyst assemblies that employ carboxylic or phosphonic acid groups to adsorb the photoreactive catalyst to the metal oxide surface. / Ph. D. / The production of H₂ fuel from water using sunlight is an important carbon-neutral strategy for the development of renewable resources and has sparked great interest in the scientific community. H₂ production efficiencies for light-activated catalysts of the architecture [{(TL)₂Ru(BL)}₂RhX₂]⁵⁺ (BL=bridging ligand, TL=terminal ligand, X=halide) are among the highest reported in deoxygenated organic solvents, but do not function in air-saturated aqueous solution due to deactivation of the catalyst under these conditions. Herein, we report the groundbreaking use of water soluble polymers to increase efficiency of light activated catalysts in solar H₂ production schemes in air-saturated water. The new photocatalytic system incorporates poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) into aqueous solutions containing [{(bpy)₂Ru(dpp)}₂RhCl₂]⁵⁺ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine). PSS has a profound impact on the efficiency of the light activated catalyst, increasing H₂ production over three times that of deoxygenated aqueous solutions alone. H₂ production proceeds even in air-saturated water for PSS containing solutions, an exciting consequence for solar hydrogen production research. Interactions between Ru,Rh,Ru light activated catalysts and polyelectrolytes were probed using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). ITC studies reveal the driving forces of aggregate formation, providing new insight into the intermolecular forces that lead to increased efficiency and stability in the presence of water soluble polymers. Synthesis and characterization of a novel light activated catalyst having hydrophilic terminal ligands are reported. Addition of water soluble terminal ligands into a Ru,Rh,Ru light-activated catalyst has a significant impact on the excited-state properties of the molecule in aqueous solution. The new molecule demonstrates increased solubility and H₂ production efficiency in aqueous solutions. H₂ production is observed even under aerobic conditions for the new molecule, a stark contrast to the hydrophobic analog in organic solvents. The synthesis, characterization, and polymerization of a new light activated catalyst on a metal oxide surface is reported. The polymeric light-activated catalysts are expected to show increased stability over a wide pH range and increased stability compared to light-activated catalysts that employ carboxylic or phosphonic acid groups to adsorb the catalyst to the metal oxide surface.

The goal of this research was to develop a series of mixed-metal supramolecular complexes with specialized light absorbing units to probe perturbation of excited-state properties by ligand deuteration and long-term complex stability via racemization of initially enantiopure light absorbing subunits. Varying bidentate polypyridyl terminal ligands (TL), bridging ligands (BL), reactive metal center (RM), or number of Ru(II) light absorbers (LA) tunes the electrochemical, spectroscopic, photophysical, and photochemical properties within the supramolecular architecture. Ru(II) monometallics of the design [(bpy)2Ru(prolinate)](PF6) utilize prolinate as a chiral directing ligand to impart chirality to the Ru(II) LAs in the synthesis of more sophisticated supramolecular complexes. Ru(II) monometallics of the design [(TL)2Ru(BL)](PF6)2 (TL = bpy or d8-bpy; BL = dpp or d10-dpp; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine) covalently couple two TLs and one BL to a central Ru(II) metal center forming a LA subunit. Larger bi- and trimetallic complexes are formed by coupling an additional Ru(II), Rh(III), or Pt(II) metal center to an existing Ru(II) LA through a BL. Ru(II),Ru(II), Ru(II),Rh(III), and Ru(II),Pt(II) bimetallics of the design [(TL)2Ru(BL)Ru(TL)2](PF6)4, [(TL)2Ru(BL)RhCl2(TL′)](PF6)3, and [(TL)2Ru(BL)PtCl2](PF6)2 (TL/TL′ = bpy or d8-bpy; BL = dpp or d10-dpp) couple only one Ru(II) LA to a Ru(II), Rh(III), or Pt(II) metal center through the BL. Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) trimetallics of the design [{(TL)2Ru(BL)}2RhCl2](PF6)5 (TL = bpy or d8-bpy; BL = dpp or d10-dpp) covalently couple two Ru(II) LAs to a central Rh(III) RM through polyazine BLs. The complexes discussed herein are synthesized using a building block approach, permitting modification of the supramolecular architecture through multiple synthetic steps. Electrochemical analysis of the mono-, bi-, and trimetallic complexes displays several common features: a Ru-based HOMO and either a bridging ligand or Rh-based LUMO. TL and BL modification by ligand deuteration does not affect the electrochemistry of the Ru(II), Ru(II),Ru(II), Ru(II),Rh(III), or Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) complexes. Likewise, utilizing a single enantiomer of the LA subunit does not modify the redox behavior of Ru(II), Ru(II),Pt(II), or Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) complexes. All of the mono-, bi-, and trimetallic complexes are efficient light absorbers throughout the UV and visible with π→π* intraligand (IL) transitions in the UV and Ru(dπ)→ligand(π*) metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions in the visible. Ligand deuteration does not affect the light absorbing properties of the complexes, while incorporation of chiral LA subunits imparts a preference for circularly polarized light (CPL) absorbance into supramolecular complexes. Photoexcitation of the Ru(dπ)→dpp(π*) 1MLCT results in near unity population of short-lived, weakly emissive Ru(dπ)→dpp(π*) ³MLCT excited state. In the Ru(II), Ru(II),Ru(II), and Ru(II),Pt(II) complexes, the 3MLCT excited state relaxes to the ground state by emission of a photon or vibrational relaxation processes. In the Ru(II),Rh(III) and Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) complexes, the 3MLCT excited state is efficiently quenched by intramolecular electron transfer to populate a non-emissive Ru(dπ)→'Rh(dσ*) metal-to-metal charge transfer (3MMCT) excited state. Utilizing a deuterated BL, the excited-state lifetimes and quantum yield of emission (Φem) are increased for Ru(II), Ru(II),Ru(II), Ru(II),Rh(III) and Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) complexes. The Ru(II),Rh(III) and Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) complexes have previously been shown to be exceptional photochemical molecular devices (PMD) for photoinitiated electron collection (PEC). The ability of these complexes to undergo multiple redox cycles, efficiently absorb light, populate reactive excited states, and collect electrons at a reactive Rh metal center fulfills the requirements for H2O reduction photocatalysts. Photolysis of the Ru(II),Rh(III) and Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) complexes with 470 nm light in the presence of a sacrificial electron donor and H2O substrate yields photocatalytic H2 production. Varying the BL from dpp to d10-dpp in the bimetallic architecture results in enhanced, although relatively low, catalyst efficiency producing 40 ± 10 μL H2 with dpp and 80 ± 10 μL H2 with d10-dpp in a CH3CN solvent system after 48 h photolysis. The trimetallic architecture showed no enhancement in photocatalytic efficiency and produced 210 ± 20 μL H2 with dpp and 180 ± 20 μL H2 with d10-dpp in a DMF solvent system after 20 h photolysis. The Ru(II),Rh(III) and Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) complexes' behavior differs in that the excited state lifetime is the most important factor for bimetallic catalyst functioning, but intramolecular electron transfer is the most important factor for the trimetallic photocatalysts. Another important property to understand with these catalysts is their long-term stability in solution. In order for these mixed-metal complexes to be industrially useful, they must perform for long periods of time without degradation in the presence of H2O substrate and electron donors in solution. Previous examinations of Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) photocatalysts have found that they can perform for ca. 50 h of photolysis, but are not as effective as the initial few hours. Special care was taken to synthesize enantiopure LA subunits and incorporate them into Ru(II),Pt(II) and Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) architectures to study their photolytic stability by monitoring how long the complexes retained their chirality using electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy. After photolyzing for longer than 200 hours with an LED light source, the quantum yield for racemization (Φrac) for the Ru(II),Pt(II) and Ru(II),Rh(III),Ru(II) architectures is 2.6 ⨉ 10⁻⁸ and 0.72 ⨉ 10⁻⁸ respectively. Also, by photolyzing in the presence of free bpy, the bi- and trimetallic complexes racemize via a non-dissociative trigonal twist mechanism. This dissertation reports the detailed analysis of the electrochemical, spectroscopic, photophysical, and photochemical properties of a series of selectively deuterated [(TL)2Ru(BL)](PF6)2, [(TL)2Ru(BL)Ru(TL)2](PF6)4, [(TL)2Ru(BL)RhCl2(TL′)](PF6)3, and [{(TL)2Ru(BL)}2RhCl2](PF6)5 (TL = bpy or d8-bpy; BL = dpp or d10-dpp; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine) supramolecular complexes and a series of [(bpy)2Ru(prolinate)](PF6), [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)](PF6)2, [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)PtCl2](PF6)2, and [{(bpy)2Ru(dpp)}2RhCl2](PF6)5 supramolecular complexes with enantiopure light absorbing subunits. The design of the supramolecular architecture and intrinsic properties of each subunit contribute to the function of these systems. The careful design, synthesis and purification, thorough characterizations, and experimentation have led to deeper understanding of the molecular properties required for efficient H2O reduction. / Ph. D.

Anthracene was attached to light activated, ruthenium-based DNA disruptors to probe their distribution in cancer cells. The objective of this research is to understand the photophysical properties (Chapter 2), photoreactivity toward DNA and proteins (Chapter 3), and localization within cancer cells (Chapter 4) of ruthenium complexes that demonstrate promise as photodynamic therapy (PDT) agents. [(AnthbpyMe)(bpy)Ru(dpp)]2+ (1) and [(AnthbpyMe)2Ru(dpp)]2+ (2) absorb visible light with metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions at 459 nm (16,000 M-1 cm-1 ) and 461 nm (21,000 M-1 cm-1 ), respectively. These species exhibit 3 MLCT emissions at λem = 661 nm and λem = 663 nm for 1 and 2, respectively, while the anthracene show emissions at 450 – 560 nm. The anthracene unit(s) quench the 3 MLCT to give quantum yields (lifetime) of Φem = 0.0059 [398(1) ns] and Φem = 0.0011 [414(1) ns] for 1 and 2, respectively. Voltammetry shows an irreversible anthracene oxidation at 1.23 – 1.28 V, RuIII/II oxidation at 1.53 – 1.55 V, and quasi-reversible reduction couples attributed to dpp0/-1 at 0.98 V. DNA gel shift assays demonstrate that complexes 1 and 2 modify DNA in the presence and absence of 3 O2 upon light activation to convert supercoiled DNA to a mixture of open circular (OC) DNA and a species that exhibit sa distinctly different migration rate than either OC and linear DNA. Binding constants, Kb, for complexes 1 and 2, toward DNA are 3.50 × 105 (3.50 × 104 ) and 4.50 × 103 (4.50 × 102 ) respectively. SDS-PAGE assays show that the complexes 1 and 2 modify bovine serum albumin (BSA) through an 3 O2-dependent mechanism upon light iii activation. The localization and PDT potency of the anthracene-Ru-dpp complexes are tested against F98 cells, which are rat glioma cells that simulate the infiltrative patterns of growth in cancer. Confocal microscopy demonstrates that complexes 1 and 2 internalize and localize primarily along the cell membrane and associate with dot-like vesicles within the cytoplasm. Complexes 1 and 2 show IC50 values of 107 µM and 85 µM, respectively, after 15 min of drug exposure and 1 h of PDT-treatment (λPDT = 455 nm). / Ph. D.