Dr. Kenneth A. Goldsby of Florida State University is being supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Program of the Chemistry Division to develop model compounds for proton-coupled electron transfer reactions. The complexes will contain only one proton susceptible to transfer, thus assuring a single reversible pH-dependent couple. The complexes synthesized will contain ruthenium (II) and ligands such as substituted imidazoles and related heterocyclic compounds, pyridine aldehydes, (pyrazolyl)pyridines, and diketones. The mechanism of electron transfer will be studied using stopped-flow spectrscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and NMR line-broadening. Also, bimetallic complexes in which changes in the pH can trigger reversible electron transfer between the metals will be prepared. %%% By careful design, complexes will be "tuned" to effect electron transfer at particular values of pH and potential. This study may have application to molecular switches and to understanding biological electron transfer reactions which involve a proton.
