Supramolecular activation of a molecular photocatalystElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. CCDC 987314. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c4dt00761a

• Main Authors: Pfeffer, Michael G, Pehlken, Christian, Staehle, Robert, Sorsche, Dieter, Streb, Carsten, Rau, Sven
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1477-9226; 1477-9234
• DOI: 10.1039/c4dt00761a

The effects of the planar aromatic organic molecules anthracene and pyrene on the catalytic performance of the intramolecular hydrogen evolving photocatalyst [Ru(tbbpy) 2 (tpphz)PdCl 2 ](PF 6 ) 2 functioning as a photocatalytic dyad have been studied. 1 H-NMR studies on [Ru(tbbpy) 2 (tpphz)PdCl 2 ](PF 6 ) 2 and [Ru(tbbpy) 2 (tpphz)](PF 6 ) 2 show a pronounced interaction of pyrene with the ruthenium complexes due to π-π-interactions. The solid state structure of [Ru(tbbpy) 2 (tpphz)PdCl 2 ] 2 [Mo 8 O 24 ] shows a pronounced π-π-stacking of the polyaromatic ligands. In addition, dimerization constants for the complexes and association constants between the complexes and pyrene were determined. Studies on the photocatalytic hydrogen production show a decreased induction phase and increased turn over frequencies during the initial phase of the catalysis in the presence of anthracene and pyrene utilising the catalyst [Ru(tbbpy) 2 (tpphz)PdCl 2 ](PF 6 ) 2 irrespective of the nature of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. Supramolecular activation of an intramolecular ruthenium palladium hydrogen evolving photocatalyst using polyaromatic compounds.