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Background Neighbourhood walkability can benefit cardiovascular health. Latino patients are more likely than non-Hispanic White patients to have diabetes, and evidence has shown better diabetes-related outcomes for patients living in neighbourhoods conducive to physical activity. Our objective was to determine whether neighbourhood walkability was associated with haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels among English- and Spanish-preferring Latino patients compared to non-Hispanic White patients. Methods We used electronic health record data from patients in the OCHIN, Inc. network of community health centres (CHC) linked to public walkability data. Patients included those age ≥ 18 with ≥ 1 address recorded, with a study clinic visit from 2012 to 2020, and a type 2 diabetes diagnosis (N  = 159,289). Generalized estimating equations logistic regression, adjusted for relevant covariates, was used to model the primary binary outcome of always having HbA1c < 7 by language/ethnicity and walkability score. Results For all groups, the walkability score was not associated with higher odds and prevalence of always having HbA1c < 7. Non-Hispanic White patients were most likely to have HbA1c always < 7 (prevalence ranged from 32.8% [95%CI = 31.2–34.1] in the least walkable neighbourhoods to 33.4% [95% CI 34.4–34.7] in the most walkable), followed by English-preferring Latinos (28.6% [95%CI = 25.4–31.8]–30.7% [95% CI 29.0–32.3]) and Spanish-preferring Latinos (28.3% [95% CI 26.1–30.4]–29.3% [95% CI 28.2–30.3]). Conclusions While walkability score was not significantly associated with glycaemic control, control appeared to increase with walkability, suggesting other built environment factors, and their interaction with walkability and clinical care, may play key roles. Latino patients had a lower likelihood of HbA1c always < 7, demonstrating an opportunity for equity improvements in diabetes care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic health record (EHR) tools such as documentation shortcuts and ordering templates are designed to enhance both the efficiency and quality of care delivery. Use of such tools vary widely in primary care. Understanding patterns of use as a means to identify priority areas for improvement are lacking. Objective: This study is designed to identify and understand patterns of EHR efficiency use among primary care clinicians as a means to inform training support needs. Study Design: Retrospective observational study. Setting or Dataset: 340 Community Health Centers (CHCs) across 48 US states from the OCHIN Network. Population Studied: The OCHIN's network and 2033 primary care clinicians engaged in patient care at least 2 days a week during DEC 2019-FEB 2020. Methods: Six EHR efficiency indicators were drawn from the Epic EHR Signal efficiency indicators which are automatically generated monthly for clinicians. Indicators include: use of quick actions, preference lists, level of service and diagnosis speed buttons and chart search functions and notes written with smart tools. A weighted score of these indicators represented overall EHR proficiency with a possible range of 0- 10 with higher scores suggesting higher efficiency. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify clusters of clinicians defined by distinct patterns of efficiency indicators. Results: The median EHR proficiency score was 4 and ranged from 0 to 9.5. The 9 cluster LPA solution the best overall fit. Clusters represented different patterns with notable strengths and deficiencies in EHR use efficiency. Cluster 2 was large (n=518) and characterized by being low on all indicators except for chart search. In contrast, cluster 9 was very small (n=12) and characterized by high scores for 4/6 indicators and low on quick actions. Conclusions: Substantial variation in EHR use efficiency among primary care clinicians was observed and can be represented by nine different patterns of indicators. These patterns show strengths and deficiencies in EHR use efficiency and could guide a tailored training approach to improve EHR efficiency., Presenters Jeremy Erroba, Miguel Marino, PhD, Rachel Gold, PhD, MPH, Rachel Springer, MS, Jennifer DeVoe, MD, DrPH, FAAFP, DPhil, Susan Flocke, PhD, David Boston, MD, [...]

Context: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) disproportionally affects racial and ethnic minority populations. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have long been first-line pharmacotherapy for ASCVD prevention. Measures recommended to guide statin indication changed in 2013 guidelines aimed at improving ASCVD prevention and reducing ASCVD disparities. It is unknown whether risk screening for initiating statins for primary prevention of ASCVD differs across race and ethnicity. Objective: Examine racial/ethnic/language differences in electronic health record (EHR) prevalence of ASCVD screening measures used for statin consideration. Specifically, compare Asian, Latino, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic White adults further distinguished by language preference. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: ADVANCE (Advancing Data Value Across a National Community Health Center) network-a PCORNet data network-635 community health centers (CHCs) in 24 US states with a shared EHR platform. Population: Adults 50+ years with =1 primary care encounter in the network 2009-2013, and/or 2014-2018. Outcome measures: Prevalence of period-specific guideline concordant screening measures for statin consideration in 2009-2013: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and 2014-2018: pooled cohort equation (PCE) components of age, sex, race, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, smoking status. For patients seen in both periods, we assessed change in period-specific measure prevalence. Outcomes were analyzed using GEE logistic regression to measure the association between race/ethnicity/language and measurement prevalence. Results: Adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors, compared to English-preferring non-Hispanic White patients, all other groups were more likely to have LDL documented (2009-2013, N=195,061) and all PCE components documented (2014-2018, N=344,504). Among those seen in both periods (N=128,621), all groups had lower odds of having PCE components vs. LDL documented in the measures' respective period; English-preferring non-Hispanic Black adults experienced a greater decline in measure documentation across the two periods compared to English-preferring non-Hispanic White adults (odds ratio 0.81; 95% confidence interval 0.72-0.91). Conclusions: CHCs may mitigate racial/ethnic/language disparities in the collection of screening measures for ASCVD prevention, which did not improve after the 2013 guideline change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic affected cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk monitoring in primary care may inform new approaches for addressing modifiable CVD risks. This study examined how pandemic-driven changes in primary care delivery affected CVD risk management processes. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective study used electronic health record data from patients at 70 primary care community clinics with scheduled appointments from September 1, 2018, to September 30, 2021. METHODS: Analyses examined associations between appointment type and select care process measures: appointment completion rates, time to appointment, and up-to-date documentation for blood pressure (BP) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). RESULTS: Of 1,179,542 eligible scheduled primary care appointments, completion rates were higher for virtual care (VC) vs in-person appointments (10.7 percentage points [PP]; 95% CI, 10.5-11.0; P < .001). Time to appointment was shorter for VC vs in-person appointments (--3.9 days; 95% CI, --4.1 to --3.7; P < .001). BP documentation was higher for appointments completed pre-- vs post pandemic onset (16.2 PP; 95% CI, 16.0-16.5; P < .001) and for appointments completed in person vs VC (54.9 PP; 95% CI, 54.6-55.2; P < .001). HbA1c documentation was higher for completed appointments after pandemic onset vs before (5.9 PP; 95% CI, 5.1-6.7; P < .001) and for completed VC appointments vs in-person appointments (3.9 PP; 95% CI, 3.0-4.7; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: After pandemic onset, appointment completion rates were higher, time to appointment was shorter, HbA1c documentation increased, and BP documentation decreased. Future research should explore the advantages of using VC for CVD risk management while continuing to monitor for unintended consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Racial and ethnic minorities in the United States have higher mortality/morbidity from cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to non-Hispanic whites, and some evidence has suggested that poor risk factor control, including appropriate prescribing of statins for lipid disorders and CVD risk reduction, contributes to these disparities. It is uncertain if the 2013 American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) guideline change for statin prescription affected this disparity. Objective: To compare the prevalence of patients with guideline indications for statin prescribing, and to compare prescribing prevalence before and after this major guideline change between racial and ethnic groups, by preferred language. Study Design: Retrospective, cohort study. Setting/Dataset: A national network of community health centers (CHCs) linked by a common electronic health record dataset. Population studied: Patients were age 50-73, and had =1 primary care visit in 2009-2013 and/or 2014-2018. Outcomes: By period, 1) proportion with period-specific indications for statin initiation 2) proportion with a statin prescription if indicated. Results: In the 2009-2013 period (N=109,330), non-English preferring White (OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.15-1.72), Black (OR=1.25, 95% CI 1.10-1.41), and Latino patients (OR=1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.16) had higher odds of meeting guideline indications for statins than Non-Hispanic White English preferring patients, and of those meeting indications, all except Black non-English patients had higher odds of statin prescription. In the 2014-2018 period (N=319,094), all groups except Latino English-preferred and White Non-English preferred patients had higher odds of meeting the new guideline indications for statin prescription. Of those meeting indications in this period, Latino English speakers had similar odds of statin prescription as non-Hispanic whites; English preferring Black patients had lower odds (OR=0.95, 95% CI 0.91-0.99). Conclusions: CHCs provide CVD screening and statin prescriptions for thousands of racial, ethnic, and language minorities, even more so than some non-Hispanic white English speakers. However, disparities appeared for English preferring Latino and Black patients after the 2013 ACC/AHA guideline change. The evaluation of major clinical guideline changes should account for their impact on racial and ethnic disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report for the first time Co II bis(terpyridine) complexes as instant ‘naked eye’ colorimetric detectors of cyanide (CN − ) in micromolar concentrations in polar solvents, including water, following the formation of the corresponding Co III tricyanide complex. The new Co III tricyanide complex [Co III (4-pyridyl-terpyridine)(CN) 3 ] is characterized by single crystal XRD diffraction. The quanitative detection of cyanide is monitored by UV–vis spectroscopic method and the selectivety of Co II bis(terpyridine) complexes to the cyanide anion is shown via addition of other anions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four derivatives of the laminate acceptor ligand dipyrido-[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine (dppz) and their corresponding ruthenium complexes, [Ru(phen)2(dppzX2)]2+, were prepared and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, and elemental analysis. The new ligands, generically denoted dppzX2, were symmetrically disubstituted on the distal benzene ring to give 10,13-dibromodppz (dppz- p-Br), 11,12-dibromodppz (dppz- o-Br), 10,13-dicyanodppz (dppz- p-CN), 11,12-dicyanodppz (dppz- o-CN). Solvated ground state MO calculations of the ruthenium complexes reveal that these electron-withdrawing substituents not only lower the LUMO of the dppz ligand (dppz(CN)2

The ruthenium complexes [Ru(phen)2(ptpba)]2+ (Rua) and [Ru(phen)2(ptpbß)]2+ (Ruß), where phen =1,10-phenanthroline ; ptpba = pyrido[2',3':5,6]pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline; ptpbß = pyrido[3',4':5,6]pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline, are shown as electrocatalysts and photocatalysts for CO2 reduction to formate, formaldehyde, and methanol. Photochemical activity of both complexes is lost in water but is retained in 1 M H2O in DMF. Controlled current electrolysis of a solution of Ruß in CO2 saturated DMF:H2O (1 M) yields predominantly methanol over a 6 h period at -0.60 V versus Ag/AgCl, with traces of formaldehyde. After this time, the potential jumped to -1.15 V producing both methanol and CO as products. Irradiation of Ruß in a solution of DMF:H2O (1 M) containing 0.2 M TEA (as the sacrificial reductant) yields methanol, formaldehyde, and formate. Identifications of all of the relevant redox and protonated states of the respective complexes were obtained by a combination of voltammetry and differential reflectance measurements. Spectroelectrochemistry was particularly useful to probe the photochemical and electrochemical reduction mechanisms of both complexes as well as the complexes speciation in the absence and presence of CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photochemical catalytic CO2 reduction to formate and methanol has been demonstrated in an aqueous homogeneous system at pH 5.0 comprising ruthenium(II) trisphenanthroline as the chromophore, pyridine as the CO2 reduction catalyst, KCl, and ascorbic acid as a sacrificial reductant, using visible light irradiation at 470 ± 20 nm. Isotopic labeling with 13CO2 yields the six-electron-reduced product 13CH3OH. After 1 h photolysis, the two-electron-reduced product formate and the six-electron-reduced product methanol are produced with quantum yields of 0.025 and 1.1 × 10–4, respectively. This represents 76 and 0.15 turnovers per Ru for formate and methanol, respectively, and 152 and 0.9 turnovers per Ru on an electron basis for formate and methanol, respectively. The system is inactive after 6 h irradiation, which appears largely to be due to chromophore degradation. A partial optimization of the methanol yield showed that high pyridine to Ru ratios are needed (100:1) and that the optimum pH is near 5.0. The presence of potassium salts enhances the yield in formate and methanol by 8- and 2-fold, respectively, compared to electrolyte-free solutions; however, other alkali and alkali earth cations have little effect. The addition of small amounts of solid metal catalysts immobilized on carbon had either no effect (M = Pt or Pd) or deleterious effects (M = Ni or Au) on methanol production. Addition of colloidal Pt resulted in no methanol production at all. This is in notable contrast with the pyridine-based electrocatalysis of CO2 to methanol in which metallic or conductive surfaces such as Pt, Pd, or p-type GaP are necessary for methanol formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the contribution of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium cycling and associated force development to energy depletion injury. Changes in intracellular calcium concentration and cell shortening during prolonged metabolic inhibition (MI) in the presence of 2, 3-butanedione monoxime (BDM); Effects of caffeine on cell injury caused by MI with BDM.

Examines the enhancement of survival of metabolically inhibited ventricular myocytes by inhibition of rigor and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium cycling. Ischemia; Irreversible cell injury; 2,3-butanedione monoxime.

OBJECTIVES: Limited research has assessed how virtual care (VC) affects cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk management, especially in community clinic settings. This study assessed change in community clinic patients' CVD risk management during the COVID-19 pandemic and CVD risk factor control among patients who had primarily in-person or primarily VC visits. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective interrupted time-series analysis. METHODS: Data came from an electronic health record shared by 52 community clinics for index (March 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020) and follow-up (July 1, 2020, to February 28, 2022) periods. Analyses compared follow-up period changes in slope and level of population monthly means of 10-year reversible CVD risk score, blood pressure (BP), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among patients whose completed follow-up period visits were primarily in person vs primarily VC. Propensity score weighting minimized confounding. RESULTS: There were 10,028 in-person and 6593 VC patients in CVD risk analyses, 9874 in-person and 5390 VC patients in BP analyses, and 8221 in-person and 4937 VC patients in HbA1c analyses. The VC group was more commonly younger, female, White, and urban. Mean reversible CVD risk, mean systolic BP, and percentage of BP measurements that were 140/90 mm Hg or higher increased significantly from index to follow-up periods in both groups. Rate of change between these periods was the same for all outcomes in both groups, regardless of care modality. CONCLUSIONS: Among community clinic patients with CVD risk, receiving a majority of care in person vs a majority of care via VC was not significantly associated with longitudinal trends in reversible CVD risk score or key CVD risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the impact of implementing automated hepatitis C (HCV) opt-out screening in the emergency department of an urban, academic medical center with high HCV prevalence, in the context of a longstanding HCV opt-in screening model. We compared nine-month periods before and after implementation. HCV testing increased by 502%, and active HCV infection identification increased by 212%. Settings where there is great opportunity for HCV diagnosis, such as emergency department settings, should consider opt-out HCV screening models. ( Am J Public Health . 2024;114(11):1228-1231. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307783).

Purpose: To assess the impact of a clinical decision support (CDS) system's recommendations on prescribing patterns targeting cardiovascular disease (CVD) when the recommendations are prioritized in order from greatest to least benefit toward overall CVD risk reduction., Methods: Secondary analysis of trial data from September 20, 2018, to March 15, 2020, where 70 community health center clinics were cluster-randomized to the CDS intervention (42 clinics; 8 organizations) or control group (28 clinics; 7 organizations). Included patients were medication-naïve and aged 40 to 75 years with ≥1 uncontrolled cardiovascular disease risk factor, with known diabetes or cardiovascular disease, or ≥10% 10-year reversible CVD risk., Results: Among eligible encounters with 29,771 patients, the probability of prescribing a medication targeting hypertension was greater at intervention clinic encounters when CDS was used (34.9% [95% CI, 31.5 to 38.3]) versus dismissed (29.6% [95% CI, 26.7 to 32.6]; P < .001 ), but not when compared with control clinic encounters (34.9% [95% CI, 31.1 to 38.7]; P = .998 ). Prescribing for dyslipidemia was significantly higher at intervention encounters where the CDS system was used (11.3% [95% CI, 9.3 to 13.3]) compared with dismissed (7.7% [95% CI, 6.1 to 9.3]; P = .003 ) and to control encounters (8.7% [95% CI, 7.0 to 10.4]; P = .044 ); smoking cessation medication showed a similar pattern. Except for dyslipidemia, prescribing rates increased according to their prioritization., Conclusions: Use of this CDS system was associated with significantly higher prescribing targeting most cardiovascular risk factors. These results highlight how displaying prioritized actions to reduce reversible CVD risk could improve risk management., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03001713, https://clinicaltrials.gov/., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: We have no conficts of interest to declare., (© Copyright by the American Board of Family Medicine.)

Importance: Adoption of mask wearing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic alters daily communication., Objective: To assess communication barriers associated with mask wearing in patient-clinician interactions and individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing., Design, Setting, and Participants: This pilot cross-sectional survey study included the general population, health care workers, and health care workers who are deaf or hard of hearing in the United States. Volunteers were sampled via an opt-in survey panel and nonrandomized convenience sampling. The general population survey was conducted between January 5 and January 8, 2021. The health care worker surveys were conducted between December 3, 2020, and January 3, 2021. Respondents viewed 2 short videos of a study author wearing both a standard and transparent N95 mask and answered questions regarding mask use, communication, preference, and fit. Surveys took 15 to 20 minutes to complete., Main Outcomes and Measures: Participants' perceptions were assessed surrounding the use of both mask types related to communication and the ability to express emotions., Results: The national survey consisted of 1000 participants (mean [SD] age, 48.7 [18.5] years; 496 [49.6%] women) with a response rate of 92.25%. The survey of general health care workers consisted of 123 participants (mean [SD] age, 49.5 [9.0] years; 84 [68.3%] women), with a response rate of 11.14%. The survey of health care workers who are deaf or hard of hearing consisted of 45 participants (mean [SD] age, 54.5 [9.0] years; 30 [66.7%] women) with a response rate of 23.95%. After viewing a video demonstrating a study author wearing a transparent N95 mask, 781 (78.1%) in the general population, 109 general health care workers (88.6%), and 38 health care workers who are deaf or hard of hearing (84.4%) were able to identify the emotion being expressed, in contrast with 201 (20.1%), 25 (20.5%), and 11 (24.4%) for the standard opaque N95 mask. In the general population, 450 (45.0%) felt positively about interacting with a health care worker wearing a transparent mask; 76 general health care workers (61.8%) and 37 health care workers who are deaf or hard of hearing (82.2%) felt positively about wearing a transparent mask to communicate with patients., Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this study suggest that transparent masks could help improve communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Background: From 2011 through 2014, the Federally Qualified Health Center Advanced Primary Care Practice Demonstration provided care management fees and technical assistance to a nationwide sample of 503 federally qualified health centers to help them achieve the highest (level 3) medical-home recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a designation that requires the implementation of processes to improve access, continuity, and coordination., Methods: We examined the achievement of medical-home recognition and used Medicare claims and beneficiary surveys to measure utilization of services, quality of care, patients' experiences, and Medicare expenditures in demonstration sites versus comparison sites. Using difference-in-differences analyses, we compared changes in outcomes in the two groups of sites during a 3-year period., Results: Level 3 medical-home recognition was awarded to 70% of demonstration sites and to 11% of comparison sites. Although the number of visits to federally qualified health centers decreased in the two groups, smaller reductions among demonstration sites than among comparison sites led to a relative increase of 83 visits per 1000 beneficiaries per year at demonstration sites (P<0.001). Similar trends explained the higher performance of demonstration sites with respect to annual eye examinations and nephropathy tests (P<0.001 for both comparisons); there were no significant differences with respect to three other process measures. Demonstration sites had larger increases than comparison sites in emergency department visits (30.3 more per 1000 beneficiaries per year, P<0.001), inpatient admissions (5.7 more per 1000 beneficiaries per year, P=0.02), and Medicare Part B expenditures ($37 more per beneficiary per year, P=0.02). Demonstration-site participation was not associated with relative improvements in most measures of patients' experiences., Conclusions: Demonstration sites had higher rates of medical-home recognition and smaller decreases in the number of patients' visits to federally qualified health centers than did comparison sites, findings that may reflect better access to primary care relative to comparison sites. Demonstration sites had larger increases in emergency department visits, inpatient admissions, and Medicare Part B expenditures. (Funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.).

Objectives: We examined sexual-orientation disparities in frequent engagement in cancer-related risk indicators of tobacco, alcohol, diet and physical activity, ultraviolet radiation, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)., Methods: We used longitudinal data from the national Growing Up Today Study (1999-2010). Of the analytic sample (n = 9958), 1.8% were lesbian or gay (LG), 1.6% bisexual (BI), 12.1% mostly heterosexual (MH), and 84.5% completely heterosexual (CH)., Results: More sexual minorities (LGs, BIs, and MHs) than CHs frequently engaged in multiple cancer-related risk behaviors (33%, 29%, 28%, and 19%, respectively). Sexual-minority young women, especially BI and MH, more frequently engaged over time in substance use and diet and physical activity risk than CH women. More young gay than CH men frequently engaged over time in vomiting for weight control (odds ratio [OR] = 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1, 9.4), being physically inactive (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.2, 2.4), and using tanning booths (OR = 4.7; 95% CI = 3.0, 7.4), and had a higher prevalence of ever having an STI (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 2.0, 6.4). Individual analyses were generally comparable to the group-level analyses., Conclusions: Young sexual minorities are at risk for cancer through frequent exposure to cancer-related risk behaviors over time. Long-term, longitudinal studies and surveillance data are essential and warranted to track frequent engagement in the risk behaviors and cancer-related morbidity and mortality.

Four derivatives of the laminate acceptor ligand dipyrido-[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz) and their corresponding ruthenium complexes, [Ru(phen)2 (dppzX2 )](2+) , were prepared and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, and elemental analysis. The new ligands, generically denoted dppzX2 , were symmetrically disubstituted on the distal benzene ring to give 10,13-dibromodppz (dppz-p-Br), 11,12-dibromodppz (dppz-o-Br), 10,13-dicyanodppz (dppz-p-CN), 11,12-dicyanodppz (dppz-o-CN). Solvated ground state MO calculations of the ruthenium complexes reveal that these electron-withdrawing substituents not only lower the LUMO of the dppz ligand (dppz(CN)2

The ruthenium complexes [Ru(phen)2(ptpbα)](2+) (Ruα) and [Ru(phen)2(ptpbβ)](2+) (Ruβ), where phen =1,10-phenanthroline ; ptpbα = pyrido[2',3':5,6]pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline; ptpbβ = pyrido[3',4':5,6]pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline, are shown as electrocatalysts and photocatalysts for CO2 reduction to formate, formaldehyde, and methanol. Photochemical activity of both complexes is lost in water but is retained in 1 M H2O in DMF. Controlled current electrolysis of a solution of Ruβ in CO2 saturated DMF:H2O (1 M) yields predominantly methanol over a 6 h period at ∼ -0.60 V versus Ag/AgCl, with traces of formaldehyde. After this time, the potential jumped to -1.15 V producing both methanol and CO as products. Irradiation of Ruβ in a solution of DMF:H2O (1 M) containing 0.2 M TEA (as the sacrificial reductant) yields methanol, formaldehyde, and formate. Identifications of all of the relevant redox and protonated states of the respective complexes were obtained by a combination of voltammetry and differential reflectance measurements. Spectroelectrochemistry was particularly useful to probe the photochemical and electrochemical reduction mechanisms of both complexes as well as the complexes speciation in the absence and presence of CO2.

The dinuclear ruthenium(II) complex [(phen)(2)Ru(tatpOMe)Ru(phen)(2)](4+) (2(4+); phen is 1,10-phenanthroline and tatpOMe is 10,21-dimethoxy-9,10,20,33-tetraazatetrapyrido[3,2-a:2'3'-c:3'',2''-l:2''',3'''-n]pentacene) has been synthesized and characterized by (1)H NMR, ESI mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Loss of methoxy group from bridging ligand of complex 2(4+) due to irradiation is observed by (1)H NMR and photochemistry. The interrelated electronic properties UV-Vis, electrochemistry, photochemistry and molecular orbital calculation are analyzed and discussed on the bridging ligand of the complex 2(4+).