Control of NO release by light irradiation from nitrosyl-ruthenium complexes containing polypyridyl ligands

The series of nitrosyl complexes cis-[RuL(bpy)(2)NO](3+) (bpy=bipyridine; L=pyridine, 4-picoline, 4-acetylpyridine) were prepared and studied by laser plash-photolysis. All the studied complexes showed nitric oxide (NO) release under light irradiation at 355 nm account by NO measured made by a NO sensor. The quantum yields for NO release was determined with a laser flash-photolysis apparatus (Continuum Q-switched Nd-YAG laser). The major product of the irradiation of cis-[RuL(bpy)(2)(NO)](3+) is an intermediate which was suggested to be cis-[(RuL)-L-III(bpy)(2)(NO.)](3+) that in aqueous solution release NO to produce cis-[RuL(bpy)(2)(OH)](2+). (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.