An improved procedure for the preparation of Ru(bpz)3(PF6)2 via a high-yielding synthesis of 2,2'-bipyrazine.

There has been a recent surge of interest in the use of transition metal polypyridyl complexes as visible light-absorbing photocatalysts for synthetic applications. Among the most attractive features of this approach is the availability of many known complexes with well-characterized photophysical and electrochemical properties. In particular, Ru(bpz)3 (2+) is a powerful photooxidant that has proven to be uniquely suited for oxidatively induced photoredox transformations. We present here a straightforward and high-yielding route to Ru(bpz)3(PF6)2 that features an improved Pd-catalyzed synthesis of the 2,2'-bipyrazine ligand that is amenable to gram-scale preparations.