Study of redox reactivity and release of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide in trinuclear ruthenium carboxylates

Abstract

This research project, under Prof .Dr. Sofia Nikolaou supervision, aims to study the redox reactivity of nitrosyl and carboxyl trinuclear ruthenium carboxylates. This initiative is motivated by the physiological and pharmacological functions of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide, as well as by the trinuclear ruthenium carboxylates interesting redox properties and the big number of redox reactions in biological environment. Another interested point of this proposal lies on the fact that this approach is unprecedented, since most of NO release studies in nitrosyls with general formula [Ru3O(CH3COO)6(L)2NO]PF6 (L = N-heterocyclic ligands) has focused on light stimulus. Therefore, the mechanisms and intermediate of its reductive stimulus release are still unknown. In the other hand, the CO release by oxidative chemical stimulus in carboxylates with general formula [Ru3O(CH3COO)6(L)2CO] has not been studied until the present moment. In view of this, the [Ru3O(CH3COO)6(py)2NO]PF6 and [Ru3O(CH3COO)6(py)2CO]0 (where py is the N-heterocyclic ligand pyridine) complexes will be synthesized and characterized and, , as they are complexes already described in the literature, it will allow us a greater focus on the unpublished reactivity studies. Once the complexes are synthesized, the reactivity data will be obtained by ultraviolet and infrared spectrum analyses from the behavior of this complexes in different solvents with and without reducer or oxidizer. Because these compounds are sensible to light, this tests will be done in the dark. Reached the objectives of this project, it is intended to deepen the studies by quantitative data collecting and kinetic modeling of the reactions mechanisms to obtain a wider view of this research theme.