Polyyn-diyls
capped by Ru
2(
ap)
4 termini (
ap = 2-anilinopyridinate), that is, [Ru
2(
ap)
4](
![](/images/entities/mgr.gif)
-
C,
C'-C
2m)[Ru
2(
ap)
4] (
compounds
1-
5 with
m = 1-4 and 6), were synthesized through either a metathesis rea
ctionbetween Ru
2(
ap)
4Cl and LiC
2mLi or a Glaser homo
coupling rea
ction of Ru
2(
ap)
4(C
mH) under Eglinton/Hay
conditions. X-ray diffra
ction studies of
compounds
2 and
4 revealed both the linear rigid rod topology ofthese
compounds and the fine stru
ctural details about the Ru
2 cores and polyyn-diyl
chains. Cy
cli
c anddifferential pulse voltammetri
c (CV and DPV) measurements and spe
ctroele
ctro
chemi
cal studies showthat redu
ced and oxidized forms of
1,
2,
4, and
5 are donor-a
cceptor systems in whi
ch the Ru
2 termini are
coupled to varying degrees depending upon the length of the polyyn-diyl bridge.