Metallorganische 5d6‐Übergangsmetallkomplexe von zwei 1‐Methyl‐(2‐alkylthiomethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐Liganden: Strukturen und elektrochemische Oxidation

Organometallic 5d⁶ Transition Metal Complexes of 1‐Methyl‐(2‐alkylthiomethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole Ligands: Structures and Electrochemical Oxidation The complexes [(mmb)Re(CO)₃Cl], [(mtb)Re(CO)₃Cl], [(mmb)OsCl(Cym)](PF₆) and [(Cym)OsCl(mtb)](PF₆) where Cym = p‐cymene, mmb = 1‐methyl‐(2‐methylthiomethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole and mtb = 1‐methyl‐(2‐tert‐butylthiomethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole were synthesized and, except for the latter, structurally characterized. In comparison with other late transition metal compounds of these N‐S chelate ligands the rhenium(I) systems exhibit a balanced coordination to both N and S donor atoms. Anodic one‐electron oxidation produces EPR‐silent rhenium(II) states whereas the osmium(III) species [(mmb)OsCl(Cym)]²⁺ could be identified via EPR and UV/VIS spectroelectrochemistry.     

Oxorhenium(V)‐ and Tricarbonylrhenium(I) Complexes with Substituted Pyrazoles as Products of the Degradation of Hydrotrispyrazolylborates

Hydrotris(3, 5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)borate and hydrotris(3‐phenylpyrazol‐1‐yl)borate decompose during reactions with [ReOCl₃(PPh₃)₂] and [NEt₄]₂[Re(CO)₃Br₃], respectively. The generated pyrazole ligands form complexes with the rhenium(V) oxo and the rhenium(I ) tricarbonyl cores. X‐ray crystal structures of the oxo‐bridged dimer [Cl(PPh₃)(O)Re(μ‐O)(μ‐Me₂pz)₂Re(O)(HMe₂pz)Cl] ( 1 ) and [Re(CO)₃(HPhpz)₂(Phpz)] ( 2 ) (HMe₂pz = 3, 5‐dimethylpyrazole, HPhpz = 3‐phenylpyrazole) show that the substituted pyrazoles can readily deprotonate and act as monodentate or bridging anionic ligands. Re‐N bond lengths between 2.09 and 2.14Å have been observed for the bridging and between 2.12 and 2.23Å for the terminal pyrazole ligands.     

Tricarbonyl(η5‐formylcyclopentadienyl)manganese(I) and tricarbonyl(η5‐formylcyclopentadienyl)rhenium(I) containing short π(CO)...π(CO) and π(CO)...π interactions

The structures of tricarbonyl(formylcyclopentadienyl)manganese(I), [Mn(C₆H₅O)(CO)₃], (I), and tricarbonyl(formylcyclopentadienyl)rhenium(I), [Re(C₆H₅O)(CO)₃], (II), were determined at 100 K. Compounds (I) and (II) both possess a carbonyl group in a trans position relative to the substituted C atom of the cyclopentadienyl ring, while the other two carbonyl groups are in almost eclipsed positions relative to their attached C atoms. Analysis of the intermolecular contacts reveals that the molecules in both compounds form stacks due to short attractive π(CO)...π(CO) and π(CO)...π interactions, along the crystallographic c axis for (I) and along the [201] direction for (II). Symmetry‐related stacks are bound to each other by weak intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of the three‐dimensional network.     

Functionalised Tris(pyrazolyl)methane Ligands and Re(CO)3 Complexes Thereof

The synthesis of new tripodal nitrogen ligands derived from tris(pyrazolyl)methane (Tpm^R, R = H, tBu, Ph in 3‐position) is described. After deprotonation of the parent tris(pyrazolyl)methane Tpm^R, the carbanion reacts readily with ethylene oxide to yield the 3,3,3‐tris(3′‐substituted pyrazolyl)propanol ligands[(3‐Rpz)₃CCH₂CH₂OH, R = H, tBu, Ph, 1a – c ]. These ligands can be easily derivatised at the alcohol function. Microwave‐assisted reactions of these ligands and [Re(CO)₅Br] yields the complex [( 1a )Re(CO)₃]Br ( 4 ) in the case of ligand 1a , whereas in the case of the substituted ligands 1b and 1c degradation was observed. The degradation products are identified as [(Hpz^R)₂Re(CO)₃Br] [R = tBu ( 7b ), Ph ( 7c )]. These complexes were also prepared directly from [Re(CO)₅Br] and the corresponding pyrazoles by microwave‐assisted synthesis. The Re(CO)₃ complexes 4 and [( 1a )Re(CO)₃]OTf ( 5 ) are water‐soluble. The structures of 5· H₂O and [{(pz)₃CCH₂CH₃}Re(CO)₃]OTf · 1.5H₂O · ¹/₂CH₃CN ( 6· 1.5H₂O · ¹/₂CH₃CN) as well as the structure of 7b have been elucidated by X‐ray crystallography.     

Monomeric Chini‐Type Triplatinum Clusters Featuring Dianionic and Radical‐Anionic π*‐Systems

Owing to their unique topologies and abilities to self‐assemble into a variety of extended and aggregated structures, the binary platinum carbonyl clusters [Pt₃(CO)₆]_n^2? (“Chini clusters”) continue to draw significant interest. Herein, we report the isolation and structural characterization of the trinuclear electron‐transfer series [Pt₃(μ‐CO)₃(CNAr^Dipp2)₃]^n? (n=0, 1, 2), which represents a unique set of monomeric Pt₃ clusters supported by π‐acidic ligands. Spectroscopic, computational, and synthetic investigations demonstrate that the highest‐occupied molecular orbitals of the mono‐ and dianionic clusters consist of a combined π*‐framework of the CO and CNAr^Dipp2 ligands, with negligible Pt character. Accordingly, this study provides precedent for an ensemble of carbonyl and isocyanide ligands to function in a redox non‐innocent manner.     

Enhanced Reactivities of Iron(IV)‐Oxo Porphyrin π‐Cation Radicals in Oxygenation Reactions by Electron‐Donating Axial Ligands

The proximal axial ligand in heme iron enzymes plays an important role in tuning the reactivities of iron(IV)‐oxo porphyrin π‐cation radicals in oxidation reactions. The present study reports the effects of axial ligands in olefin epoxidation, aromatic hydroxylation, alcohol oxidation, and alkane hydroxylation, by [(tmp)^+. Fe^IV(O)(p‐Y‐PyO)]⁺ ( 1 ‐Y) (tmp=meso‐tetramesitylporphyrin, p‐Y‐PyO=para‐substituted pyridine N‐oxides, and Y=OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl). In all of the oxidation reactions, the reactivities of 1 ‐Y are found to follow the order 1 ‐OCH₃ > 1 ‐CH₃ > 1 ‐H > 1 ‐Cl; negative Hammett ρ values of ?1.4 to ?2.7 were obtained by plotting the reaction rates against the σ_p values of the substituents of p‐Y‐PyO. These results, as well as previous ones on the effect of anionic nucleophiles, show that iron(IV)‐oxo porphyrin π‐cation radicals bearing electron‐donating axial ligands are more reactive in oxo‐transfer and hydrogen‐atom abstraction reactions. These results are counterintuitive since iron(IV)‐oxo porphyrin π‐cation radicals are electrophilic species. Theoretical calculations of anionic and neutral ligands reproduced the counterintuitive experimental findings and elucidated the root cause of the axial ligand effects. Thus, in the case of anionic ligands, as the ligand becomes a better electron donor, it strengthens the FeO? H bond and thereby enhances its H‐abstraction activity. In addition, it weakens the Fe?O bond and encourages oxo‐transfer reactivity. Both are Bell–Evans–Polanyi effects, however, in a series of neutral ligands like p‐Y‐PyO, there is a relatively weak trend that appears to originate in two‐state reactivity (TSR). This combination of experiment and theory enabled us to elucidate the factors that control the reactivity patterns of iron(IV)‐oxo porphyrin π‐cation radicals in oxidation reactions and to resolve an enigmatic and fundamental problem.     

Synthesis and Study of Cationic,Two‐Coordinate Triphenylphosphine– Gold–π Complexes

Cationic, two‐coordinate triphenylphosphine–gold(I)–π complexes of the form [(PPh₃)Au(π ligand)]⁺ SbF₆^? (π ligand=4‐methylstyrene, 1? SbF₆), 2‐methyl‐2‐butene ( 3? SbF₆), 3‐hexyne ( 6? SbF₆), 1,3‐cyclohexadiene ( 7? SbF₆), 3‐methyl‐1,2‐butadiene ( 8? SbF₆), and 1,7‐diphenyl‐3,4‐heptadiene ( 10? SbF₆) were generated in situ from reaction of [(PPh₃)AuCl], AgSbF₆, and π ligand at ?78 °C and were characterized by low‐temperature, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy without isolation. The π ligands of these complexes were both weakly bound and kinetically labile and underwent facile intermolecular exchange with free ligand (ΔG^≠≈9 kcal mol^?1 in the case of 6? SbF₆) and competitive displacement by weak σ donors, such as trifluoromethane sulfonate. Triphenylphosphine–gold(I)–π complexes were thermally unstable and decomposed above ?20 °C to form the bis(triphenylphosphine) gold cation [(PPh₃)₂Au]⁺SbF₆^? ( 2? SbF₆).     

Heterokuban‐Cluster‐Verbindungen (NEt4){Y=M[(μ3‐S)Re(CO)3]3(μ3‐E)} (M = W oder Mo,Y = O oder S,E = S oder Se): Strukturen,Spektroskopie und Elektrochemie

Heterocubane Cluster Compounds (NEt₄){Y=M[(μ₃‐S)Re(CO)₃]₃(μ₃‐E)} (M = W or Mo, Y = O or S, E = S or Se): Structures, Spectroscopy, and Electrochemistry Thiometallates [MS₄]^2– (M = Mo, W) or [WOS₃]^2– react with Re(CO)₅(O₃SCF₃) and Li₂E (E = S or Se) to yield the following compounds which were structurally characterized: (NEt₄){S=W[(μ₃‐S)Re(CO)₃]₃(μ₃‐S)}(NEt₄) ( 1 ), (NEt₄){O/S=W[(μ₃‐S)Re(CO)₃](μ₃‐S)}(NEt₄) ( 1 / 2 ), (mixed crystals), (NEt₄){S=W[(μ₃‐S)Re(CO)₃]₃(μ₃‐Se)}(NEt₄) ( 3 ) and (NEt₄){S=Mo[(μ₃‐S)Re(CO)₃]₃(μ₃‐S)}(NEt₄) ( 4 ). The heterocubane anions 1 – 4 contain electron‐rich centers such as rhenium(I) or sulfide whereas molybdenum(VI) or tungsten(VI) act as acceptor sites. Accordingly, the absorption spectra show long‐wavelength metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer transitions, and cyclic voltammetry reveals a quasi‐reversible reduction of the clusters. Although both six‐coordinate rhenium(I) and four‐coordinate metal(VI) centers are present in the clusters there is no evidence for significant metal‐to‐metal charge transfer interaction.     

Weak C—H...O and C—H...π hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions in a series of four N′‐[(E)‐(aryl)methylidene]‐N‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazides

Oxazolidin‐2‐ones are widely used as protective groups for 1,2‐amino alcohols and chiral derivatives are employed as chiral auxiliaries. The crystal structures of four differently substituted oxazolidinecarbohydrazides, namely N′‐[(E)‐benzylidene]‐N‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazide, C₁₂H₁₂N₃O₃, (I), N′‐[(E)‐2‐chlorobenzylidene]‐N‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazide, C₁₂H₁₂ClN₃O₃, (II), (4S)‐N′‐[(E)‐4‐chlorobenzylidene]‐N‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazide, C₁₂H₁₂ClN₃O₃, (III), and (4S)‐N′‐[(E)‐2,6‐dichlorobenzylidene]‐N,3‐dimethyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazide, C₁₃H₁₃Cl₂N₃O₃, (IV), show that an unexpected mild‐condition racemization from the chiral starting materials has occurred in (I) and (II). In the extended structures, the centrosymmetric phases, which each crystallize with two molecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit, form A+B dimers linked by pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds, albeit with different O‐atom acceptors. One dimer is composed of one molecule with an S configuration for its stereogenic centre and the other with an R configuration, and possesses approximate local inversion symmetry. The other dimer consists of either R,R or S,S pairs and possesses approximate local twofold symmetry. In the chiral structure, N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into C(5) chains, with adjacent molecules related by a 2₁ screw axis. A wide variety of weak interactions, including C—H...O, C—H...Cl, C—H...π and π–π stacking interactions, occur in these structures, but there is little conformity between them.     

Osmium Complexes with Tridentate 6‐Pyrazol‐3‐yl 2,2′‐Bipyridine Ligands: Coarse Tuning of Phosphorescence from the Red to the Near‐Infrared Region

We have prepared and characterized a series of osmium complexes [Os₂(CO)₄(fpbpy)₂] ( 1 ), [Os(CO)(fpbpy)₂] ( 2 ), and [Os(fpbpy)₂] ( 3 ) with tridentate 6‐pyrazol‐3‐yl 2,2′‐bipyridine chelating ligands. Upon the transformation of complex 2 into 3 through the elimination of the CO ligand, an extremely large change in the phosphorescence wavelength from 655 to 935 nm was observed. The results are rationalized qualitatively by the strong π‐accepting character of CO, which lowers the energy of the osmium d_π orbital, in combination with the lower degree of π conjugation in 2 owing to the absence of one possible pyridine‐binding site. As a result, the energy gap for both intraligand π–π* charge transfer (ILCT) and metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) is significantly greater in 2 . Firm support for this explanation was also provided by the time‐dependent DFT approach, the results of which led to the conclusion that the S₀→T₁ transition mainly involves MLCT between the osmium center and bipyridine in combination with pyrazolate‐to‐bipyridine ³π–π* ILCT. The relatively weak near‐infrared emission can be rationalized tentatively by the energy‐gap law, according to which the radiationless deactivation may be governed by certain low‐frequency motions with a high density of states. The information provided should allow the successful design of other emissive tridentate metal complexes, the physical properties of which could be significantly different from those of complexes with only a bidentate chromophore.     

Oxo–Group‐14‐Element Bond Formation in Binuclear Uranium(V) Pacman Complexes

Simple and versatile routes to the functionalization of uranyl‐derived U^V–oxo groups are presented. The oxo‐lithiated, binuclear uranium(V)–oxo complexes [{(py)₃LiOUO}₂(L)] and [{(py)₃LiOUO}(OUOSiMe₃)(L)] were prepared by the direct combination of the uranyl(VI) silylamide “ate” complex [Li(py)₂][(OUO)(N”)₃] (N”=N(SiMe₃)₂) with the polypyrrolic macrocycle H₄L or the mononuclear uranyl (VI) Pacman complex [UO₂(py)(H₂L)], respectively. These oxo‐metalated complexes display distinct U? O single and multiple bonding patterns and an axial/equatorial arrangement of oxo ligands. Their ready availability allows the direct functionalization of the uranyl oxo group leading to the binuclear uranium(V) oxo–stannylated complexes [{(R₃Sn)OUO}₂(L)] (R=nBu, Ph), which represent rare examples of mixed uranium/tin complexes. Also, uranium–oxo‐group exchange occurred in reactions with [TiCl(OiPr)₃] to form U‐O? C bonds [{(py)₃LiOUO}(OUOiPr)(L)] and [(iPrOUO)₂(L)]. Overall, these represent the first family of uranium(V) complexes that are oxo‐functionalised by Group 14 elements.     

Enhanced π‐Backdonation from Gold(I): Isolation of Original Carbonyl and Carbene Complexes

The specific electronic properties of bent o‐carborane diphosphine gold(I) fragments were exploited to obtain the first classical carbonyl complex of gold [(DPCb)AuCO]⁺ (ν(CO)=2143 cm^?1) and the diphenylcarbene complex [(DPCb)Au(CPh₂)]⁺, which is stabilized by the gold fragment rather than the carbene substituents. These two complexes were characterized by spectroscopic and crystallographic means. The [(DPCb)Au]⁺ fragment plays a major role in their stability, as substantiated by DFT calculations. The bending induced by the diphosphine ligand substantially enhances π‐backdonation and thereby allows the isolation of carbonyl and carbene complexes featuring significant π‐bond character.     

On the Origin of Reactivity Enhancement/Suppression upon Sequential Ligation: [Re(CO)x]+/CH4 (x=0–3) Couples

The thermal gas‐phase reactions of rhenium carbonyl complexes [Re(CO)_x ]⁺ (x =0–3) with methane have been explored by using FT‐ICR mass spectrometry complemented by high‐level quantum chemical calculation. While it had been concluded in previous studies that addition of closed‐shell ligands in general decreases the reactivity of metal ions, the current work provides an exception: the previously demonstrated inertness of atomic Re⁺ towards methane is completely changed upon ligation with CO. Both [Re(CO)]⁺ and [Re(CO)₂]⁺ bring about efficient dehydrogenation of the hydrocarbon under ambient conditions. However, addition of a third ligand to form [Re(CO)₃]⁺ completely quenches the reactivity.     

Uncovering Intramolecular π‐Type Hydrogen Bonds in Solution by NMR Spectroscopy and DFT Calculations

Reaction between the phosphinito bridged diplatinum species [(PHCy₂)Pt(μ‐PCy₂){κ²P,O‐μ‐P(O)Cy₂}Pt(PHCy₂)](Pt–Pt) ( 1 ), and (trimethylsilyl)acetylene at 273 K affords the σ‐acetylide complex [(PHCy₂)(η¹‐Me₃SiC≡C)Pt(μ‐PCy₂)Pt(PHCy₂){κP‐P(OH)Cy₂}](Pt–Pt) ( 2 ) featuring an intramolecular π‐type hydrogen bond. Scalar and dipolar couplings involving the POH proton were detected by 2D NMR experiments. Relativistic DFT calculations of the geometry, relative energy, and NMR properties of model systems of 2 confirmed the structural assignment and allowed the energy of the π‐type hydrogen bond to be estimated (ca. 22 kJ mol^?1).     

One‐ and Two‐Dimensional PbII Complexes Constructed from N‐Donor Chelating Ligands with Extended π‐System and Organic Dicarboxylates

Two new coordination polymers [Pb(TIP)(1,3‐bdc)]_n ( 1 ) and [Pb(Dpq)(fum)]_n ( 2 ) (TIP = 2‐(2‐thienyl)imidazo[4,5‐f]1,10‐phenanthroline, Dpq = dipyrido[3,2‐d:2′,3′‐f]quinoxaline, 1,3‐H₂bdc = benzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylic acid, fum = fumaric acid) were synthesized by hydrothermal reactions and were characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Complex 1 is a one‐dimensional (1D) chain, which is bridged by 1,3‐bdc ligands. This is further extended into a three‐dimensional (3D) supramolecular structure by hydrogen bonding interactions. Compound 2 exhibits a two‐dimensional (2D) network structure, which is further stacked by π–π interactions to form a 3D supramolecular framework. The most important feature of these two complexes is that the N‐donor ligands with an extended π‐system play a crucial role in the formation and stabilization of the final supramolecular frameworks. Moreover, the fluorescence property of complex 1 was also investigated in the solid state at room temperature.     

Solid‐State Thermolysis of a fac‐Rhenium(I) Carbonyl Complex with a Redox Non‐Innocent Pincer Ligand

The development of rhenium(I) chemistry has been restricted by the limited structural and electronic variability of the common pseudo‐octahedral products fac‐[ReX(CO)₃L₂] (L₂=α‐diimine). We address this constraint by first preparing the bidentate bis(imino)pyridine complexes [(2,6‐{2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃N?CPh}₂C₅H₃N)Re(CO)₃X] (X=Cl 2 , Br 3 ), which were characterized by spectroscopic and X‐ray crystallographic means, and then converting these species into tridentate pincer ligand compounds, [(2,6‐{2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃N?CPh}₂C₅H₃N)Re(CO)₂X] (X=Cl 4 , Br 5 ). This transformation was performed in the solid‐state by controlled heating of 2 or 3 above 200 °C in a tube furnace under a flow of nitrogen gas, giving excellent yields (≥95 %). Compounds 4 and 5 define a new coordination environment for rhenium(I) carbonyl chemistry where the metal center is supported by a planar, tridentate pincer‐coordinated bis(imino)pyridine ligand. The basic photophysical features of these compounds show significant elaboration in both number and intensity of the d–π* transitions observed in the UV/Vis spec tra relative to the bidentate starting materials, and these spectra were analyzed using time‐dependent DFT computations. The redox nature of the bis(imino)pyridine ligand in compounds 2 and 4 was examined by electrochemical analysis, which showed two ligand reduction events and demonstrated that the ligand reduction shifts to a more positive potential when going from bidentate 2 to tridentate 4 (+160 mV for the first reduction step and +90 mV for the second). These observations indicate an increase in electrostatic stabilization of the reduced ligand in the tridentate conformation. Elaboration on this synthetic methodology documented its generality through the preparation of the pseudo‐octahedral rhenium(I) triflate complex [(2,6‐{2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃N?CPh}₂C₅H₃N)Re(CO)₂OTf] ( 7 , 93 % yield).     

1,2,4‐Triazol‐3‐ylidenes with an N‐2,4‐Dinitrophenyl Substituent as Strongly π‐Accepting N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

The synthesis and characterisation of a series of new Rh and Au complexes bearing 1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐ylidenes with a N‐2,4‐dinitrophenyl (N‐DNP) substituent are described. IR, NMR, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and computational analyses of the Rh complexes revealed that the N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) behaved as strong π acceptors and weak σ donors. In particular, a natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis revealed that the contributions of the Rh→C_carbene π backbonding interaction energies (ΔE_bb) to the bond dissociation energies (BDE) of the Rh? C_carbene bond for [RhCl(NHC)(cod)] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) reached up to 63 %. The Au complex exhibited superior catalytic activity in the intermolecular hydroalkoxylation of cyclohexene with 2‐methoxyethanol. The NBO analysis suggested that the high catalytic activity of the Au^I complex resulted from the enhanced π acidity of the Au atom.     

The π‐Bonding Trend in VIB M(CO)6 Observed by NMR Spectroscopy — A Natural Bond Orbital View

Analysis of carbonyl's 2π orbital populations, [2π], obtained by NMR relaxation time experiments of VIB M(CO)(?⁶‐C₆H₆) reveals the 3d < 4d < 5d trend for M r? CO back‐donation, as reported values of [2π] for VIB M(CO)₅(quinuclidine). The same analysis performed on Mn(CO)₃(?⁵C₅H₅) and Re(CO)₃(?⁵‐C₅H₅) also gives 3d < 5d order of back‐donation. The distinctive 3d ～ 5d > 4d trend reported for VIB M(CO)₆ has been investigated by second‐order perturbation theory analysis within the natural bond orbital (NBO) scheme to search for orbital‐based explanations. Besides the conventional d_π r? 2π donor‐acceptor (DA) interaction in the trend 3d < 4d < 5d, the other DA interaction arising from three‐center‐hyperbond (3CHB) hyperconjugation has been found in the trend 3d >> 5d ～ 4d. Within the VIB M(CO)₆ family, this 3CHB hyperconjugation is so much higher in Cr(CO)₆ than in W(CO)₆ as to render the overall 2π populations exhibiting the 3d ～ 5d > 4d trend.     

Synthesis and structures of photoactive rhenium carbonyl complexes derived from 2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole, 2‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole and 1,10‐phenanthroline

Carbon monoxide (CO) has recently been identified as a gaseous signaling molecule that exerts various salutary effects in mammalian pathophysiology. Photoactive metal carbonyl complexes (photoCORMs) are ideal exogenous candidates for more controllable and site‐specific CO delivery compared to gaseous CO. Along this line, our group has been engaged for the past few years in developing group‐7‐based photoCORMs towards the efficient eradication of various malignant cells. Moreover, several such complexes can be tracked within cancerous cells by virtue of their luminescence. The inherent luminecscent nature of some photoCORMs and the change in emission wavelength upon CO release also provide a covenient means to track the entry of the prodrug and, in some cases, both the entry and CO release from the prodrug. In continuation of the research circumscribing the development of trackable photoCORMs and also to graft such molecules covalently to conventional delivery vehicles, we report herein the synthesis and structures of three rhenium carbonyl complexes, namely, fac‐tricarbonyl[2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole‐κ²N ,N ′](4‐vinylpyridine‐κN )rhenium(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate, [Re(C₇H₇N)(C₁₂H₈N₂S)(CO)₃](CF₃SO₃), ( 1 ), fac‐tricarbonyl[2‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole‐κ²N ,N ′](4‐vinylpyridine‐κN )rhenium(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate, [Re(C₇H₇N)(C₁₆H₁₀N₂S)(CO)₃](CF₃SO₃), ( 2 ), and fac‐tricarbonyl[1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N ,N ′](4‐vinylpyridine‐κN )rhenium(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate, [Re(C₇H₇N)(C₁₂H₈N₂)(CO)₃](CF₃SO₃), ( 3 ). In all three complexes, the Re^I center resides in a distorted octahedral coordination environment. These complexes exhibit CO release upon exposure to low‐power UV light. The apparent CO release rates of the complexes have been measured to assess their comparative CO‐donating capacity. The three complexes are highly luminescent and this in turn provides a convenient way to track the entry of the prodrug molecules within biological targets.