Competition between energy transfer and interligand electron transfer in porphyrin-osmium(II) bis(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) dyads

Rapid intramolecular energy transfer occurs from a free-base porphyrin to an attached osmium(II) bis(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) complex, most likely by way of the F?rster dipole-dipole mechanism. The initially formed metal-to-ligand, charge-transfer (MLCT) excited-singlet state localized on the metal complex undergoes very fast intersystem crossing to form the corresponding triplet excited state ((3)MLCT). This latter species transfers excitation energy to the (3)pi,pi* triplet state associated with the porphyrin moiety, such that the overall effect is to catalyze intersystem crossing for the porphyrin. Interligand electron transfer (ILET) to the distal terpyridine ligand, for which there is no driving force, competes poorly with triplet energy transfer from the proximal (3)MLCT to the porphyrin. Equipping the distal ligand with an ethynylene residue provides the necessary driving force for ILET and this process now competes effectively with triplet energy transfer to the porphyrin. The rate constants for all the relevant processes have been derived from laser flash photolysis studies.     

Reversible luminescence switching in a ruthenium(II) bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine)-benzoquinone dyad

An electroactive luminescent switch has been synthesized that comprises a hydroquinone-functionalized 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine ligand coordinated to a ruthenium(II) (4'-phenylethynyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) fragment. The assembly is sufficiently rigid that the hydroquinone-chromophore distance is fixed. Excitation of the complex via the characteristic metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) absorption band produces an excited triplet state in which the promoted electron is localized on the terpyridine ligand bearing the acetylenic group. The triplet lifetime in butyronitrile solution at room temperature is 46 +/- 3 ns but increases markedly at lower temperature. Oxidation of the hydroquinone to the corresponding benzoquinone switches on an electron-transfer process whereby the MLCT triplet donates an electron to the quinone. This reaction reduces the triplet lifetime to 190 +/- 12 ps and essentially extinguishes emission. The rate of electron transfer depends on temperature in line with classical Marcus theory, allowing calculation of the electronic coupling matrix element and the reorganization energy as being 22 cm(-1) and 0.84 eV, respectively. The switching behavior can be monitored using luminescence spectroelectrochemistry. The on/off level is set by temperature and increases as the temperature is lowered.     

Photoinduced energy- and electron-transfer processes in dinuclear Ru(II)-Os(II), Ru(II)-Os(III), and Ru(III)-Os(II) trisbipyridine complexes containing a shape-persistent macrocyclic spacer.

The PF6- salt of the dinuclear [(bpy)2Ru(1)Os(bpy)2]4+ complex, where 1 is a phenylacetylene macrocycle which incorporates two 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) chelating units in opposite sites of its shape-persistent structure, was prepared. In acetonitrile solution, the Ru- and Os-based units display their characteristic absorption spectra and electrochemical properties as in the parent homodinuclear compounds. The luminescence spectrum, however, shows that the emission band of the Ru(II) unit is almost completely quenched with concomitant sensitization of the emission of the Os(II) unit. Electronic energy transfer from the Ru(II) to the Os(II) unit takes place by two distinct processes (k(en) = 2.0x10(8) and 2.2x10(7) s(-1) at 298 K). Oxidation of the Os(II) unit of [(bpy)2Ru(1)Os(bpy)2]4+ by Ce(IV) or nitric acid leads quantitatively to the [(bpy)2Ru(II)(1)Os(III)(bpy)2]5+ complex which exhibits a bpy-to-Os(III) charge-transfer band at 720 nm (epsilon(max) = 250 M(-1) cm(-1)). Light excitation of the Ru(II) unit of [(bpy)2Ru(II)(1)Os(III)(bpy)2]5+ is followed by electron transfer from the Ru(II) to the Os(III) unit (k(el,f) = 1.6x10(8) and 2.7x10(7) s(-1)), resulting in the transient formation of the [(bpy)2Ru(III)(1)Os(II)(bpy)2]5+ complex. The latter species relaxes to the [(bpy)2Ru(II)(1)Os(III)(bpy)2]5+ one by back electron transfer (k(el,b) = 9.1x10(7) and 1.2x10(7) s(-1)). The biexponential decays of the [(bpy)2*Ru(II)(1)Os(II)(bpy)2]4+, [(bpy)2*Ru(II)(1)Os(III)(bpy)2]5+, and [(bpy)2Ru(III)(1)Os(II)(bpy)2]5+ species are related to the presence of two conformers, as expected because of the steric hindrance between hydrogen atoms of the pyridine and phenyl rings. Comparison of the results obtained with those previously reported for other Ru-Os polypyridine complexes shows that the macrocyclic ligand 1 is a relatively poor conducting bridge.     

Intramolecular energy-transfer processes in a bis(porphyrin)-ruthenium(II) bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) molecular array

A molecular triad has been synthesized comprising two free-base porphyrin terminals linked to a central ruthenium(II) bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) subunit via meso-phenylene groups. Illumination into the ruthenium(II) complex is accompanied by rapid intramolecular energy transfer from the metal-to-ligand, charge-transfer (MLCT) triplet to the lowest-energy pi-pi* triplet state localized on one of the porphyrin subunits. Transfer takes place from a vibrationally excited level which lowers the activation energy. The electronic coupling matrix element for this process is 73 cm(-1). Selective illumination into the lowest-energy singlet excited state (S1) localized on the porphyrin leads to fast singlet-triplet energy transfer that populates the MLCT triplet state with high efficiency. This latter process occurs via Dexter-type electron exchange at room temperature, but the activation energy is high and the reaction is prohibited at low temperature. For this latter process, the electronic coupling matrix element is only 8 cm(-1).     

Electron delocalization in a ruthenium(II) Bis(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridyl) complex

Photophysical properties have been recorded for a ruthenium(II) bis(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) complex bearing a single ethynylene substituent. The target compound is weakly emissive in fluid solution at room temperature, but both the emission yield and lifetime increase dramatically as the temperature is lowered. As found for the unsubstituted parent complex, the full temperature dependence indicates that the lowest-energy triplet state couples to two higher-energy triplets and to the ground state. Luminescence occurs only from the lowest-energy triplet state, but the radiative and nonradiative decay rates indicate that electron delocalization occurs at the triplet level. Comparison of the target compound with the parent complex indicates that the ethynylene group reduces the size of the electron-vibrational coupling element for nonradiative decay of the lowest-energy triplet state. Although other factors are affected by substitution, this is by far the most important feature with regard to stabilization of the triplet state.     

Solvent switching of intramolecular energy transfer in bichromophoric systems: photophysics of (2,2'-bipyridine)tetracyanoruthenate(II)/pyrenyl complexes

The supramolecular systems [Ru(Pyr(n)bpy)(CN)(4)](2-) (n = 1, 2), where one and two pyrenyl units are linked via two-methylene bridges to the [Ru(bpy)(CN)(4)](2-) chromophore, have been synthesized. The photophysical properties of these systems, which contain a highly solvatochromic metal complex moiety, have been investigated in water, methanol, and acetonitrile. In all solvents, prompt and efficient singlet-singlet energy transfer takes places from the pyrene to the inorganic moiety. Energy transfer at the triplet level, on the other hand, is dramatically solvent dependent. In water, the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) emission of the Ru-based chromophore is completely quenched, and rapid (200 ps for n = 1) irreversible triplet energy transfer to the pyrene units is detected in ultrafast spectroscopy. In acetonitrile, the MLCT emission is practically unaffected by the presence of the pyrenyl chromophore, implying the absence of any intercomponent triplet energy transfer. In methanol, triplet energy transfer leads to an equilibrium between the excited chromophores, with considerable elongation of the MLCT lifetime. The investigation of the [Ru(Pyr(n)bpy)(CN)(4)](2-) systems in methanol provided a very detailed and self-consistent picture: (i) The initially formed MLCT state relaxes toward equilibrium in 0.5-1.3 ns (n = 1, 2), as monitored both by ultrafast transient absorption and by time-correlated single photon counting. (ii) The two excited chromophores decay with a common lifetime of 260-450 ns (n = 1, 2), as determined from the decay of MLCT emission (slow component) and of the pyrene triplet absorption. (iii) These equilibrium lifetimes are fully consistent with the excited-state partition of 12-6% MLCT (n = 1-2), independently measured from preexponential factors of the emission decay. Altogether, the results demonstrate how site-specific solvent effects can be used to control the direction of intercomponent energy flow in bichromophoric systems.     

Construction of triangular metallomacrocycles: [M3(1,2-bis(2,2':6',2''-terpyridin-4-yl-ethynyl)benzene)3][M = Ru(II), Fe(II), 2Ru(II)Fe(II)

Complexation of a predesigned (1,2-bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridin-4-yl-ethynyl)benzene) ligand possessing a 60 degrees angle between two terpyridines with transition metals [Fe(II) and Ru(II)] afforded the self-assembled, triangular metallomacrocycles.     

(2,2':6',2' '-Terpyridine)platinum(II) complexes containing (thioalkyl)dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) ligands

A series of novel platinum(II)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine (trpy) complexes containing (thioalkyl)dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) (closo-carborane) derivatives were prepared by treatment of the labile precursor species [Pt(MeCN)(trpy)](OTf)2 with R(CH2)nSH (R = closo-1,2-carborane, n = 0-3; R = closo-1,7-carborane, n = 1; R = closo-1,12-carborane, n = 1) in the presence of NEt3 to afford brightly colored complexes of the type [PtS(CH2)nR(trpy)]OTf. All products were characterized by means of multinuclear (1H, 13C, 11B, and 195Pt) 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, and, for the 1,7-carborane derivative, X-ray crystallography. Preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity studies of selected complexes against human ovarian carcinoma cells are also reported.     

Photophysical properties of closely-coupled, binuclear ruthenium(II) bis(2,2':6',2''-terpyridine) complexes

The photophysical properties of closely-coupled, binuclear complexes formed by connecting two ruthenium(II) bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) complexes via an alkynylene group are compared to those of the parent complex. The dimers exhibit red-shifted emission maxima and prolonged triplet lifetimes in deoxygenated solution. Triplet quantum yields are much less than unity and the dimers generate singlet molecular oxygen with low quantum efficiency. Temperature dependence emission studies indicate coupling to higher-energy triplet states while cyclic voltammetry shows that the metal centres are only very weakly coupled but that extensive electron delocalization occurs upon one-electron reduction. The radiative rate constants derived for these dimers are relatively low, because the lowest-energy metal-to-ligand, charge-transfer states possess increased triplet character. In contrast, the rate constants for nonradiative decay of the lowest-energy triplet states are kept low by extended electron delocalization over the polytopic ligand. The poor triplet yields are a consequence of partitioning at the second triplet level.     

Electronic energy transfer and collection in luminescent molecular rods containing ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine complexes linked by thiophene-2,5-diyl spacers

The electronic absorption spectra, luminescence spectra and lifetimes (in MeCN at room temperature and in frozen n-C3H7CN at 77 K), and electrochemical potentials (in MeCN) of the novel dinuclear [(tpy)Ru(3)Os(tpy)]4+ and trinuclear [(tpy)Ru(3)Os(3)Ru(tpy)]6- complexes (3 = 2,5-bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridin-4-yl)thiophene) have been obtained and are compared with those of model mononuclear complexes and homometallic [(tpy)Ru(3)Ru(tpy)]4+, [(tpy)Os(3)Os(tpy)]4+ and [(tpy)Ru(3)Ru(3)Ru(tpy)]6+ Complexes. The bridging ligand 3 is nearly planar in the complexes, as seen from a preliminary X-ray determination of [(tpy)Ru(3)Ru(tpy)][PF6]4, and confers a high degree of rigidity upon the polynuclear species. The trinuclear species are rod-shaped with a distance of about 3 nm between the terminal metal centres. For the polynuclear complexes, the spectroscopic and electrochemical data are in accord with a significant intermetal interaction. All of the complexes are luminescent (phi in the range 10(-4)-10(-2) and tau in the range 6-340 ns, at room temperature), and ruthenium- or osmium-based luminescence properties can be identified. Due to the excited state properties of the various components and to the geometric and electronic properties of the bridge, Ru --> Os directional transfer of excitation energy takes place in the complexes [(tpy)Ru(3)Os(tpy)]4+ (end-to-end) and [(tpy)Ru(3)Os(3)Ru(tpy)]6+ (periphery-to-centre). With respect to the homometallic case, for [(tpy)Ru(3)Os(3)Ru(tpy)]6+ excitation trapping at the central position is accompanied by a fivefold enhancement of luminescence intensity.     

Orientational control of electronic coupling in mixed-valence, binuclear ruthenium(II)-bis(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) complexes

A series of binuclear ruthenium(II)-bis(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) complexes has been prepared around a central biphenylene unit equipped with a strap of variable length. Partial oxidation forms the mixed-valence complex that displays both ligand-to-metal, charge-transfer, and intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) transitions in the near-IR region. On the basis of Hush theory, the electronic coupling matrix element for interaction between the metal centers decreases with increasing length of the tethering strap. This effect arises because the strap modulates the torsion angle between the phenyl rings and thereby controls the extent of through-bond electronic coupling. The coupling element favors a maximum for planar geometries and a minimum for orthogonal structures, but the full impact of the torsion angle is not realized due to thermal fluctuations.     

Synthesis and properties of the elusive ruthenium(II) complexes of 4'-cyano-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine

The heteroleptic and homoleptic ruthenium(II) complexes of 4'-cyano-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine are synthesized by palladium catalyzed cyanation of the corresponding Ru(II) complexes of 4'-chloro-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine. The introduction of the strongly electron-withdrawing cyano group into the Ru(tpy)(2)(2+) moiety dramatically changes its photophysical and redox properties as well as prolongs its room temperature excited-state lifetime.