Near-IR electrochromism in electropolymerized films of a biscyclometalated ruthenium complex bridged by 1,2,4,5-tetra(2-pyridyl)benzene.

Reductive electropolymerization of the biscyclometalated ruthenium complex [(vtpy)Ru(tpb)Ru(vtpy)](2+) [vtpy = 4'-vinyl-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine; tpb = 1,2,4,5-tetra(2-pyridyl)benzene] proceeded smoothly on electrode surfaces. Thanks to the strong electron coupling between the ruthenium centers of the individual monomeric units and strong intervalence charge-transfer absorption in the mixed valence state, the produced adherent metallopolymeric films exhibited near-IR electrochromism with tricolor switching, good contrast ratio (40% at 1165 nm), short response time, low-switching voltage, and long memory time.