Post-synthetic molecular modifications based on Schiff base condensation reactions for designing functional paddlewheel diruthenium(II,II) complexes.

A new synthetic route for constructing functional paddlewheel diruthenium(II,II) complexes ([RuII,II2]) was developed by utilizing Schiff base condensation reactions of formyl-substituted benzoate-bridged [RuII,II2] complexes with various aromatic monoamines under mild conditions. Cyclic voltammetry and DFT calculations revealed that the attached Schiff base groups significantly affected the electronic states of the resulting [RuII,II2] complexes.