OJICOpen Journal of Inorganic Chemistry2161-7406Scientific Research Publishing10.4236/ojic.2019.91001OJIC-90772ArticlesChemistry&Materials Science Micellar Effect on Photoinduced Electron Transfer Reactions of Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes with Quinones: Effect of CTAB ThangaduraiSumitha Celin1GeorgeAllen Gnana Raj1*Department of Chemistry & Research Centre, Scott Christian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil, India30012019090111013, December 201827, January 2019 30, January 2019© Copyright 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. 2014This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial International License (CC BY-NC).http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Photoinduced electron transfer reaction between the excited state ruthenium (II) polypyridyl complexes and quinones has been investigated in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide using luminescent quenching techniques. The complexes have the absorption and emission maximum in the range 452 - 468 nm and 594 - 617 nm respectively. The static nature of quenching is confirmed from the ground state absorption studies. The association constants for the complexes with quinones are calculated from the Benesi-Hildebrand plots using absorption spectral data. The value of quenching rate constant ( kq) is highly sensitive to the nature of the ligand and the quencher, the medium, structure and size of the quenchers. Compared to the aqueous medium, the electron transfer rate is altered in CTAB medium. The oxidative nature of the quenching is confirmed by the formation of Ru 3+ ion and quinone anion radical.

Quenching Stern-Volmer Plot Static Quenching Ru(II) Polypyridyl Complex1. Introduction

Luminescence quenching is a very important technique to get adequate information about the structure, properties and reactions of luminescent molecules. Quenching is an important process by which the luminescence intensity of the luminophore is reduced by various processes like molecular rearrangements, excited state reactions, ground-state complex formation and collisional quenching [1] . The photochemistry and photophysics of transition metal complexes having d6 electronic configuration, have attracted the chemists in the field of solar energy conversion [2] , and biomolecular sensing [3] so as to characterize the microheterogeneous environments, due to their favorable photophysical properties, excited state reactivities and chemical stability [4] . Of these, Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes have been investigated to a greater extent. The photoinduced electron transfer reactions of [Ru(NN)3]2+ (where NN' = 2,2'-bipyridine and its alkyl derivatives) with several quinones have been studied. These reactions are highly influenced by the change in the structure of the ligands of the polypyridyl complex as well as the quenchers. There is a decrease in the quenching rate constant with bulkiness of the ligand and the quencher. This has been explained in terms of the electron transfer distance between the luminophore and the quencher [5] . The introduction of electron releasing and electron with-drawing groups in the 4,4'-position of 2,2'-bipyridine alters the polar as well as the steric effect of the reactants. The hydrophobicity is also affected.

Quinones are important class of organic compounds used in various electrochemical processes during biological energy storage and storage. They have a good redox behavior and act as an efficient electron acceptor. Many biological processes like respiration operate only due to the active quinone species [6] . Attempts have been made in recent years to design and synthesize molecules that mimic natural biological processes and light driven process like photosystem II [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] . Many biological membrane and membrane protein were used as simple model systems [12] . One of the typical such membranes is the micelles. Micelles are organized assemblies of surfactants in organic solvents. These surfactants are active at the interphase and they possess both hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics in the same molecule. The solubility of the hydrophobic compound in an aqueous medium can be dramatically enhanced by the addition of surfactant. The structure of micelle (i.e. shape, size, aggregation number) depends on the architecture of the surfactant molecule. Those molecules accommodated in molecular assemblies have greater degree of organization than those in the homogeneous medium. Thus these aqueous micelle bound systems are an attractive alternative to highly toxic and expensive organic solvents.

A well known surfactant is cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. A series of surfactant ruthenium (II) bipridyl derivatives have been reported previously [13] . Ruthenium (II) polypyridyl complexes have been extensively studied in micellar media. Their photophysical properties like absorption maxima, emission maxima, quantum yield, excited state lifetime vary enormously with the nature of the surfactant molecule. Electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between micelles and reactants will alter the rate as well as the kinetics of the reaction between the micelle and the reactant. The present study deals with the electron transfer reactions of [Ru(NN)3]2+ complexes with quinones in CTAB media. The results observed in the aqueous and CTAB media are discussed here.

2. Experimental2.1. Materials

The three [Ru(NN)3]2+ complexes [NN = bipyridine (bpy), 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dmbpy), 4,4'-di-t-butyl, 2,2'-bipyridine (dtbpy)] were synthesized from known procedures [14] [15] byreacting RuCl3・3H2O (1 mM) with the corresponding ligands (3 mM) dissolved in 20 ml of ethylene glycol and refluxing for 4 hours. The solution was then allowed to cool at room temperature and filtered to remove any insoluble impurities. A saturated solution of sodium tetrafluoroborate was then added dropwise into the filtrate until an orange precipitate formed. The product was filtered, washed with cold water and diethyl ether and dried in a vacuum desicator. The product was further purified by recrystallisation from water. The quinones were procured from Sigma Aldrich and were used as such without further purification. The cationic surfactant CTAB was purchased from Merck. The double distilled deionised water was used for the studies.

2.2. Absorption and Emission Spectral Measurements

SYSTRONICS 2203 double beam spectrophotometer was used to measure the absorption spectral characteristics. Emission studies were carried out using JASCO-FP-8600 spectrofluorometer. The sample concentrations were maintained at 4 × 10−5 M. Quenchers had the concentrations between 4 × 10−6 and 2.8 × 10−7 M. Luminescence measurements and absorption measurements were carried out at room temperature. The sample solutions of same concentration was used for both absorbance and emission measurements. The solutions used for emission studies and excited state lifetime measurements were deaerated for about 30 mts using dry N2 gas purging. Excited state lifetime was measured using laser flash photolysis technique. An applied photophysics SP-Quanta Ray GCR-2(10) Nd YAG laser was used as an excitation source.

The quenching rate constant (kq) was calculated using Stern-Volmer plot equation,

I 0 / I = 1 + k q τ 0 [ Q ]

where I0 and I are the emission intensities in the absence and presence of quencher respectively and τ 0 is the emission lifetime of the Ru(II) complex in the absence of the quencher.

3. Results and Discussion

The structure of the ligands and the quenchers used in the present study are shown in Figure 1.

The photophysical properties like absorption maxima, emission maxima and emission lifetime of the [Ru(NN)3]2+ complexes are depicted in Table 1. The absorption maxima of the complexes are in the range of 448 nm to 458 nm in

Absorption, emission spectral data and excited state lifetime of [Ru(NN)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>2+</sup> complex with quinones in CTAB medium
ComplexAbsorption maximum (nm)Emission maximum, (nm)Life time τ (ns)
aqCTABaqCTABaqCTAB
[Ru(bpy)3]2+448452596594650387
[Ru(dmbpy)3]2+458459605606360250
[Ru(dtbpy)3]2+457468625617510290

aqueous medium. The emission maxima range from 452 nm to 461 nm. All the three Ru(II) complexes show a strong ligand centred (LC) π-π* transition in the region 260 nm to 280 nm region and a low energy absorption in the 452 to 461 nm region assigned to the dπ-π* MLCT transition. In [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complex, the MLCT absorption maximum is at 448 nm in the aqueous medium. There is a bathochromic shift in the absorption maximum to the tune to 10 nm due to the introduction of dmbpy, dtbpy ligands in the aqueous medium. The change in medium from homogeneous to microheterogeneous medium also alters the photophysical properties.

These data show that micelles lower the energy level of 3MLCT states, thereby they stabilize them relative to the d-d state. The absorption spectrum is recorded in water-acetonitrile medium (9:1 v/v). Figure 2 displays the absorption spectrum of [Ru(NN)3]2+ complex in CTAB medium. There is a slight change in the emission spectrum of the Ru(II) complexes in CTAB medium compared to that of the aqueous medium. These observations substantiate the importance of hydrophobic interactions between the ligands of the probe and the cationic micelle. These hydrophobic interactions affect the columbic repulsion and thereby

bring the ruthenium (II) complexes close to the cationic micelle. The results show the importance of hydrophobic effect over the electrostatic forces.

3.1. Oxidative Quenching of [Ru(NN)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>2+</sup> Complexes with Quinones in the Presence of Cationic Surfactant

The photoinduced ET reactions of [Ru(NN)3]2+ complexes with quinones in presence of cationic surfactant CTAB has been studied using luminescence technique. The absorption spectral studies of [Ru(bpy)3]2+, [Ru(dmbpy)3]2+, [Ru(dtbpy)3]2+ complexes with the incremental addition of para quinones are performed in order to check the formation of ground state complex in aqueous and CTAB medium. There is a shift in the MLCT absorption maximum of these complexes with the addition of quinone derivatives indicating that there is ground state complex formation and this concluded the static nature of quenching in the present experimental condition.

The absorption spectral studies of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complexes with incremental concentration of 1,4-benzoquinone shows a slight shift in the MLCT absorption maximum, confirming the formation of ground state complex (Figure 2). The emission spectrum of [Ru(dmbpy)3]2+ with incremental concentration of 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone in CTAM medium is shown in Figure 3. The association of these complexes with quinones may be due to static quenching. The association constant (Ka) of [Ru(NN)3]2+ complexes with quinones calculated using Benesi-Hildebrand equation is given in Table 2. The obtained Ka values are in the range of 103 - 105 M−1. The Benesi Hildebrand plots for the absorption spectral data of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complex with quinones are displayed in Figure 4. These photoluminescence studies show that the association of [Ru(NN)3]2+

Association constant K<sub>a</sub> (M<sup>−1</sup>) and first order rate constant k<sub>rad</sub> (s<sup>−1</sup>) for the excited state quenching of [Ru(NN)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>2+</sup> complexes with quinones in CTAB media
Quencher[Ru(bpy)3]2+[Ru(dmbpy)3]2+
Ka (M−1)krad (s−1)Ka (M−1)krad (s−1)
1,4-benzoquinone2.1 × 10 44.09 × 10 54.71 × 10 44.62 × 10 5
2-methyl-1, 4-benzoquinone1.17 × 10 57.10 × 10 51.93 × 10 41.15 × 10 6

complexes and quinones in CTAB media is probably Vander Waals or hydrophobic in nature. The first order rate constant, which is got by the ratio of association constant and quenching rate constant shows that their values lie in the range of 104 to 105 M−1.

The Stern-Volmer plot for the oxidative quenching of *[Ru(dmbpy)3]2+ by 1,4-benzoquinone in CTAB medium is shown in Figure 5. The plot reveals that the excited state Ru(II) complexes are quenched by the quinones. The experimental quenching constant kq technique for the three Ru(II) complexes with quinone derivatives in cationic micellar medium and aqueous medium are given in Table 3. It is seen that the quenching rate constant values in CTAB medium is higher than the aqueous medium. [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complex shows a quenching constant of 6.01 × 109 M−1・s−1 with 2-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone in aqueous medium, whereas in CTAB it has the value of 3.849 × 1010 M−1・s−1. It is seen that different trends are analysed depending on the substituents of the ligands in [Ru(NN)3]2+ as well as the quencher. The quenching constant value is also influenced by the presence of electron with-drawing or electron-donating group in the parent quencher 1,4-benzoquinone.2-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone is an electron with-drawing substituent and it increases the kq value. The observations lead to a conclusion that electrostatic repulsion between the ligands of the probe and the micelle is compensated by the hydrophobic interaction between the ligands of the probe and the micelle. These results demonstrate the potential application of the micelle bound Ru complexes as sensors in medical and biological fields.

3.2. Transient Absorption Spectra

The oxidative nature of the quenching of ruthenium (II) polypyridyl complexes

Luminescence quenching rate constant (k<sub>q</sub>) for the oxidative quenching of [Ru(NN)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>2+</sup> with quinones in aqueous medium and in CTAB medium at 298 K (b)
Quencher[Ru(bpy)3]2+
M−1・s−1
AqueousCTAB
2-chloro 1,4-benzoquinone6.01 × 1093.849 × 1010
1,4-benzoquinone2.461 × 1091.166 × 1010
2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone4.071 × 1093.369 × 1010
2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone1.452 × 1093.318 × 1010
[Ru(dmbpy)3]2+[Ru(dtbpy)3]2+
M−1・s−1
AqueousCTABAqueousCTAB
5.55 × 1093.965 × 10103.11 × 1091.306 × 1010
1.452 × 10104.761 × 10101.38 × 10105.959 × 1010
1.563 × 10102.237 × 10102.001 × 1092.76 × 1010
1.35 × 1097.865 × 10104.484 × 1093.02 × 1010

is confirmed by the transient absorption spectrum. Argon bubbled CTAB (0.04 M) solution of Ru(II) complex were excited at 355 nm under laser flash photolysis. The transient absorption spectrum of *[Ru(dmbpy)3]2+ in the presence of 0.001 M 2,6-ditertiary butyl-1,4-benzoquinone in CTABat 1 μs, after 355 nm laser flash photolysis is shown in Figure 6. It consists of bleach around 450 nm and a positive absorption with a maximum centered at 370 nm. This is due to the substituted bipyridyl anion radical. The bleach around 450 nm is due to the loss of ground state absorption dπ-π* (MLCT) transition. The bleach around 600 - 700 nm corresponds to the relaxation of excited state to the ground state. The band at 643 nm confirms the formation of Ru3+ species as transient. Thus the formation of Ru3+ species and quinone anion radical as transient species confirms the oxidative quenching of the complex.

4. Conclusion

The present study clearly establishes the effect of cationic micelle on the quenching of [Ru(bpy)3]2+, [Ru(dmbpy)3]2+ and [Ru(dtbpy)3]2+ with para-quinones. Absorption spectral data show that the quenching is static in nature. The value of quenching rate constant is sensitive to the medium, nature and structure of the ligand and the quenchers used, the electron transfer distance between the luminophore and quencher. The detection of Ru3+ species and formation of quinone anion radical confirms the oxidation nature and electron transfer nature of quenching. Thus the change in medium from homogeneous to microheterogeneous strongly influences the kq due to the presence of hydrophobic interaction.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Cite this paper

Celin, T.S. and Raj, G.A.G. (2019) Micellar Effect on Photoinduced Electron Transfer Reactions of Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes with Quinones: Effect of CTAB. Open Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 9, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojic.2019.91001

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