Ligand–mediated coupling between metal centres is of fundamental importance in inorganic and materials chemistry. Bridging ligands involving azo groups as coordinating π–acceptors can yield complexes with interesting properties. This thesis describes the synthesis of a series of N–heterocyclic compounds containing the azo functionality, designed for potential coordination to the metal through the azo nitrogen and a N–heterocyclic ring. The azo ligands are divided into four categories; ligands based on azobispyridines, ligands containing pyrimidine and fused aromatic azine groups and ligands capable of coordinating in a bis–tridentate fashion to the metal centre. Ligands containing flexible imine subunits connected directly, or through different spacers, are also discussed. Overall twenty one ligands were synthesised, six of which are new compounds. The coordination and metallosupramolecular chemistry of these ligands with ruthenium(II) and silver(I) metal atoms was investigated. A total of thirty five ruthenium(II) and eleven silver(I) complexes were prepared, of which thirty eight were characterised by X–ray crystallography. Mononuclear and dinuclear ruthenium(II) complexes were synthesised and characterised by a combination of spectroscopic and structural techniques. UV/Visible absorption studies and electrochemical methods were used to investigate the nature of metal–ligand and metal–metal interactions. In the mononuclear Ru(II) complexes, N–heterocyclic azo ligands act as chelating ligands forming five–membered chelate rings involving azo–N and heterocyclic–N atoms. The non–coordinated pyridine ring of the azo ligand is twisted with respect to the azo–N atom and is directed towards the adjacent bipyridine rings. Studies reveal that these azo ligands posses extremely low–lying π*–orbitals and are electron deficient. X–Ray structural analysis of the dinuclear complexes revealed short inter–metal separations of ca. 4.9 Å and electrochemical studies indicate that these ligands mediate very strong interactions between the metal centres , due to the excellent π*–acceptor properties of the azo functionality. Varying the pyridine ring of the azo ligand to pyrimidines and fused N–aromatic rings has a considerable effect on the electronic properties of these complexes. Incorporation of a pyrimidine ring facilitates the stabilisation of azo anion radicals and leads to the formation of diruthenium(II) species, bridged by radical species. The X–ray crystal structures of both these complexes were determined. The use of the hexadentate ligands coordinating in a bis–tridentate manner mediate even stronger communication between the two ruthenium centres. Ligands containing bis–pyridylimines result in weaker coupling between the metal centres in dinuclear ruthenium(II) species. A complete absence in the inter–metal communication was observed with increasing the distance and/or flexibility between the two pyridylimine units, contrary to a previous reported claim. Reaction with different silver(I) salts afforded an array of one–dimensional coordination polymers and a discrete dinuclear complex depending on the coordination strengths of the anions. The metallosupramolecular assemblies obtained were characterised mainly by X–ray crystallography, elemental analysis and mass spectrometry.

Ligand–mediated coupling between metal centres is of fundamental importance in inorganic and materials chemistry. Bridging ligands involving azo groups as coordinating π–acceptors can yield complexes with interesting properties. This thesis describes the synthesis of a series of N–heterocyclic compounds containing the azo functionality, designed for potential coordination to the metal through the azo nitrogen and a N–heterocyclic ring. The azo ligands are divided into four categories; ligands based on azobispyridines, ligands containing pyrimidine and fused aromatic azine groups and ligands capable of coordinating in a bis–tridentate fashion to the metal centre. Ligands containing flexible imine subunits connected directly, or through different spacers, are also discussed. Overall twenty one ligands were synthesised, six of which are new compounds. The coordination and metallosupramolecular chemistry of these ligands with ruthenium(II) and silver(I) metal atoms was investigated. A total of thirty five ruthenium(II) and eleven silver(I) complexes were prepared, of which thirty eight were characterised by X–ray crystallography. Mononuclear and dinuclear ruthenium(II) complexes were synthesised and characterised by a combination of spectroscopic and structural techniques. UV/Visible absorption studies and electrochemical methods were used to investigate the nature of metal–ligand and metal–metal interactions. In the mononuclear Ru(II) complexes, N–heterocyclic azo ligands act as chelating ligands forming five–membered chelate rings involving azo–N and heterocyclic–N atoms. The non–coordinated pyridine ring of the azo ligand is twisted with respect to the azo–N atom and is directed towards the adjacent bipyridine rings. Studies reveal that these azo ligands posses extremely low–lying π*–orbitals and are electron deficient. X–Ray structural analysis of the dinuclear complexes revealed short inter–metal separations of ca. 4.9 Å and electrochemical studies indicate that these ligands mediate very strong interactions between the metal centres , due to the excellent π*–acceptor properties of the azo functionality. Varying the pyridine ring of the azo ligand to pyrimidines and fused N–aromatic rings has a considerable effect on the electronic properties of these complexes. Incorporation of a pyrimidine ring facilitates the stabilisation of azo anion radicals and leads to the formation of diruthenium(II) species, bridged by radical species. The X–ray crystal structures of both these complexes were determined. The use of the hexadentate ligands coordinating in a bis–tridentate manner mediate even stronger communication between the two ruthenium centres. Ligands containing bis–pyridylimines result in weaker coupling between the metal centres in dinuclear ruthenium(II) species. A complete absence in the inter–metal communication was observed with increasing the distance and/or flexibility between the two pyridylimine units, contrary to a previous reported claim. Reaction with different silver(I) salts afforded an array of one–dimensional coordination polymers and a discrete dinuclear complex depending on the coordination strengths of the anions. The metallosupramolecular assemblies obtained were characterised mainly by X–ray crystallography, elemental analysis and mass spectrometry.

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