Structural Characterization and Spectroscopic Investigation of Isomerization Dynamics in Photochromic Polypyridyl Ruthenium(II) Chelating mono- and bis-Sulfoxide Complexes

This dissertation reports and discusses the synthesis, characterization and photophysical/photochemical investigation of a variety of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl sulfoxide complexes which undergo photochemical and electrochemical intramolecular (S→O) linkage isomerization reactions. Relevant analytical spectroscopic techniques are discussed in detail. Molecules which undergo multiple isomerizations (bis-sulfoxides) have been studied to interrogate excited states which lead to sequential or concerted isomerizations, with the aim of optimizing reaction efficiency. Furthermore, molecules designed to be structurally (covalently or non-covalently) incorporated to develop photochromic materials have been synthesized and investigated and are discussed.