Syntheses, characterization and sensitized lanthanide luminescence of heteronuclear Pt-Ln (Ln = Eu, Nd, Yb) complexes with 2,2′-bipyridyl ethynyl ligands

Reaction of [Pt()Cl]⁺ ( = 4,4′,4′′-tri-tert-butyl-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) with 5-ethynyl-2,2′-bipyridine (HCCbpy) or 5,5′-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (Me₃SiCCbpyCCSiMe₃) in the presence of cuprous iodide gives [Pt(^tBu₃tpy)(CCbpy)]⁺ (1) or [{Pt()}₂(CCbpyCC)]²⁺ (2) through Pt-acetylide σ-coordination, respectively. Incorporating 1 or 2 with Ln(hfac)₃(H₂O)₂ through 2,2′-bipyridyl chelating the Ln^III (Ln = Nd, Eu, and Yb) centers induces formation of a series of [Pt()(CCbpy){Ln(hfac)₃}]⁺ (PtLn) or [{Pt()}₂(CCbpyCC){Ln(hfac)₃}]²⁺ (Pt₂Ln) complexes, respectively. The structures of binuclear platinum(II) complex 2(PF₆)₂ and heterobinuclear PtNd complex 3(CF₃COO) were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Both 1 and 2 exhibit typical low-energy absorption bands in near UV-Vis region, ascribed to dπ(Pt) → π^∗() MLCT and π(CCbpy/CCbpyCC) → π^∗() LLCT transitions. Upon formation of the PtLn or PtLn₂ complexes, the low-energy absorption bands are obviously blue-shifted (15-20 nm) compared with those in the Pt^II precursor 1 or 2. With excitation at 350 nm < λ < 550 nm which is the absorption region of MLCT and LLCT transitions, sensitized luminescence that is characteristic of the corresponding lanthanide(III) ions occurs in both PtLn and Pt₂Ln complexes. In contrast, Pt-based luminescence from the MLCT and LLCT states are mostly quenched in these Pt-Ln heteronuclear complexes, revealing that quite effective Pt → Ln energy transfer is operating from the Pt()(acetylide) chromophore to the lanthanide(III) centers.