Structural and photophysical properties of coordination networks combining [Ru(Bpym)(CN)4]2- or [[Ru(CN)4]2(mu-bpym)]4- anions (bpym = 2,2'-bipyrimidine) with lanthanide(III) cations: sensitized near-infrared luminescence from Yb(III), Nd(III), and Er(III) following Ru-to-lanthanide energy transfer

Reaction of the cyanoruthenate anions [Ru(bpym)(CN)4]2- and [[Ru(CN)4]2(mu-bpym)]4- (bpym = 2,2'-bipyrimidine) with lanthanide(III) salts resulted in the crystallization of coordination networks based on Ru-CN-Ln bridges. Four types of structure were obtained: [Ru(bpym)(CN)4][Ln(NO3)(H2O)5] (Ru-Ln; Ln = Sm, Nd, and Gd) are one-dimensional helical chains; [Ru(bpym)(CN)4]2[Ln(NO3)(H2O)2][Ln(NO3)(0.5)(H2O)(5.5)](NO3)(0.5).5.5H2O (Ru-Ln; Ln = Er and Yb) are two-dimensional sheets containing cross-linked chains based on Ru2Ln2(mu-CN)4 diamond units, which are linked into one-dimensional chains via shared Ru atoms; [[Ru(CN)4]2(mu-bpym)][Ln(NO3)(H2O)5]2.3H2O (Ru2-Ln; Ln = Nd and Sm) are one-dimensional ladders with parallel Ln-NC-Ru-CN-Ln-NC strands connected by the bipyrimidine "cross pieces" acting as rungs on the ladder; and [[Ru(CN)4]2(mu-bpym)][Ln(H2O)6](0.5)[Ln(H2O)4](NO3)(0.5).nH2O (Ru2-Ln; Ln = Eu, Gd, and Yb; n = 8.5, 8.5, and 8, respectively) are three-dimensional networks in which two-dimensional sheets of Ru2Ln2(mu-CN)4 diamonds are connected via cyanide bridges to Ln(III) ions between the layers. Whereas Ru-Gd shows weak triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (3MLCT) luminescence in the solid state from the Ru-bipyrimidine chromophore, in Ru-Nd, Ru-Er, and Ru-Yb, the Ru-based emission is quenched, and all of these show, instead, sensitized lanthanide-based near-IR luminescence following a Ru --> Ln energy transfer. Similarly, Ru2-Nd and Ru2-Yb show lanthanide-based near-IR emission following excitation of the Ru-bipyrimidine chromophore. Time-resolved luminescence measurements suggest that the Ru --> Ln energy-transfer rate is faster (when Ln = Yb and Er) than in related complexes based on the [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- chromophore, because the lower energy of the Ru-bpym 3MLCT provides better spectroscopic overlap with the low-energy f-f states of Yb(III) and Er(III). In every case, the lanthanide-based luminescence is relatively short-lived as a result of the CN oscillations in the lattice.     

Cyanide-bridged Os(II)/Ln(III) coordination networks containing [Os(phen)(CN)4]2- as an energy donor: structural and photophysical properties

Slow evaporation of aqueous solutions containing mixtures of Na 2[Os(phen)(CN) 4], Ln(III) salts (Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd, Er, Yb), and (in some cases) an additional ligand such as 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) or 2,2'-bipyrimidine (bpym) afforded crystalline coordination networks in which the [Os(phen)(CN) 4] (2-) anions are coordinated to Ln(III) cations via Os-CN-Ln cyanide bridges. The additional diimine ligands, if present, also coordinate to the Ln(III) centers. Several types of structure have been identified by X-ray crystallographic studies. Photophysical studies showed that the characteristic emission of the [Os(phen)(CN) 4] (2-) chromophore, which occurs at approximately 680 nm in this type of coordination environment with a triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer ( (3)MLCT) energy content of approximately 16 000 cm (-1), is quenched by energy transfer to those Ln(III) centers (Pr, Nd, Er, Yb) that have low-lying f-f states capable of accepting energy from the Os(II)-based (3)MLCT state. Time-resolved studies on the residual (partially quenched) Os(II)-based luminescence allowed the rates of Os(II) --> Ln(III) energy transfer to be evaluated. The measured rates varied substantially, having values of >5 x 10 (8), approximately 1 x 10 (8), and 2.5 x 10 (7) s (-1) for Ln = Nd, Er or Yb, and Pr, respectively. These differing rates of Os(II) --> Ln(III) energy transfer can be rationalized on the basis of the availability of f-f states of the different Ln(III) centers that are capable of acting as energy acceptors. In general, the rates of Os(II) --> Ln(III) energy transfer are an order of magnitude faster than the rates of Ru(II) --> Ln(III) energy transfer in a previously described series of [Ru(bipy)(CN) 4] (2-)/Ln(III) networks. This is ascribed principally to the lower energy of the Os(II)-based (3)MLCT state, which provides better spectroscopic overlap with the low-lying f-f states of the Ln(III) ions.     

Photophysical and structural properties of cyanoruthenate complexes of hexaazatriphenylene

The tritopic bridging ligand hexaazatriphenylene (HAT) has been used to prepare the mono-, di-, and trinuclear cyanoruthenate complexes [Ru(CN)(4)(HAT)](2-) ([1](2-)), [{Ru(CN)(4)}(2)(mu(2)-HAT)](4-) ([2](4-)), and [{Ru(CN)(4)}(3)(mu(3)-HAT)](6-) ([3](6-)). These complexes are of interest both for their photophysical properties and ability to act as sensitizers, associated with strong MLCT absorptions; and their structural properties, with up to 12 externally directed cyanide ligands at a single "node" for preparation of coordination networks. The complexes are strongly solvatochromic, with broad and intense MLCT absorption manifolds arising from the presence of low-lying pi* orbitals on the HAT ligand, as confirmed by DFT calculations; in aprotic solvents [3](6-) is a panchromatic absorber of visible light. Although nonluminescent in fluid solution, the lowest MLCT excited states have lifetimes in D(2)O of tens of nanoseconds and could be detected by time-resolved IR spectrosocopy. For dinuclear [2](4-) and trinuclear [3](6-) the TRIR spectra are indicative of asymmetric MLCT excited states containing distinct Ru(III) and Ru(II) centers on the IR time scale. The complexes show red (3)MLCT luminescence as solids and in EtOH/MeOH glass at 77 K. Ln(III) salts of [1](2-), [2](4-), and [3](6-) form infinite coordination networks based on Ru-CN-Ln bridges with a range of one-, two-, and three-dimensional polymeric structures. In the Yb(III) and Nd(III) salts of [3](6- )the complex anion forms an 8-connected node. Whereas all of the Gd(III) salts show strong (3)MLCT luminescence in the solid state, the Ru-based emission in the Nd(III) and Yb(III) analogues is substantially quenched by Ru --> Ln photoinduced energy transfer, which results in sensitized near-infrared luminescence from Yb(III) and Nd(III).     

Photoinduced Ru-Yb energy transfer and sensitised near-IR luminescence in a coordination polymer containing co-crystallised [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- and Yb(III) units

Co-crystallisation of the anionic cyanometallate chromophore [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- with Yb(III) provides coordination polymers or oligomers containing Ru-CN-Yb bridges; in [K(H2O)4][Yb(H2O)6][Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2.5H2O Ru-->Yb energy-transfer (k > 5 x 10(6) s(-1)) results in partial quenching of the Ru-based luminescence and sensitised near-IR luminescence from the Yb(III) unit.     

Structural and photophysical properties of coordination networks combining [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- anions and lanthanide(III) cations: rates of photoinduced Ru-to-lanthanide energy transfer and sensitized near-infrared luminescence

Co-crystallization of K2[Ru(bipy)(CN)4] with lanthanide(III) salts (Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd, Er, Yb) from aqueous solution affords coordination oligomers and networks in which the [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- unit is connected to the lanthanide cation via Ru-CN-Ln bridges. The complexes fall into two structural types: [{Ru(bipy)(CN)4}2{Ln(H2O)m}{K(H2O)n}] x xH2O (Ln = Pr, Er, Yb; m = 7, 6, 6, respectively), in which two [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- units are connected to a single lanthanide ion by single cyanide bridges to give discrete trinuclear fragments, and [{Ru(bipy)(CN)4}3{Ln(H2O)4}2] x xH2O (Ln = Nd, Gd), which contain two-dimensional sheets of interconnected, cyanide-bridged Ru2Ln2 squares. In the Ru-Gd system, the [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- unit shows the characteristic intense (3)metal-to-ligand charge transfer luminescence at 580 nm with tau = 550 ns; with the other lanthanides, the intensity and lifetime of this luminescence are diminished because of a Ru --> Ln photoinduced energy transfer to low-lying emissive states of the lanthanide ions, resulting in sensitized near-infrared luminescence in every case. From the degree of quenching of the Ru-based emission, Ru --> Ln energy-transfer rates can be estimated, which are in the order Yb (k(EnT) approximately 3 x 10(6) sec(-1), the slowest energy transfer) < Er < Pr < Nd (k(EnT) approximately 2 x 10(8) sec(-1), the fastest energy transfer). This order may be rationalized on the basis of the availability of excited f-f levels on the lanthanide ions at energies that overlap with the Ru-based emission spectrum. In every case, the lifetime of the lanthanide-based luminescence is short (tens/hundreds of nanoseconds, instead of the more usual microseconds), even when the water ligands on the lanthanide ions are replaced by D2O to eliminate the quenching effects of OH oscillators; we tentatively ascribe this quenching effect to the cyanide ligands.     

Heteronuclear bipyrimidine-bridged Ru-Ln and Os-Ln dyads: low-energy 3MLCT states as energy-donors to Yb(III) and Nd(III)

The complexes [Ru((t)Bu(2)bipy)(bpym)X(2)] (X = Cl, NCS) and [M((t)Bu(2)bipy)(2)(bpym)][PF(6)](2) (M = Ru, Os) all have a low-energy LUMO arising from the presence of a 2,2'-bipyrimidine ligand, and consequently have lower-energy (1)MLCT and (3)MLCT states than analogous complexes of bipyridine. The vacant site of the bpym ligand provides a site at which [Ln(diketonate)(3)] units can bind to afford bipyrimidine-bridged dinuclear Ru-Ln and Os-Ln dyads; four such complexes have been structurally characterised. UV/Vis and luminescence spectroscopic studies show that binding of the Ln(III) fragment at the second site of the bpym ligand reduces the (3)MLCT energy of the Ru or Os fragment still further. The result is that in the dyads [Ru((t)Bu(2)bipy)X(2)(mu-bpym)Ln(diketonate)(3)] (X = Cl, NCS) and [Os((t)Bu(2)bipy)(2)(mu-bpym)Ln(diketonate)(3)][PF(6)](2) the (3)MLCT is too low to sensitise the luminescent f-f states of Nd(III) and Yb(III), but in [Ru((t)Bu(2)bipy)(2)(mu-bpym)Ln(diketonate)(3)][PF(6)](2) the (3)MLCT energy of 13,500 cm(-1) permits energy transfer to Yb(III) and Nd(III) resulting in sensitised near-infrared luminescence on the microsecond timescale.     

Sensitised near-infrared luminescence from lanthanide(III) centres using Re(I) and Pt(II) diimine complexes as energy donors in d-f dinuclear complexes based on 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine

The luminescent transition metal complexes [Re(CO)(3)Cl(bppz)] and [Pt(CC-C(6)H(4)CF(3))(2)(bppz)] [bppz = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine], in which one of the diimine binding sites of the potentially bridging ligand bppz is vacant, have been used as 'complex ligands' to make heterodinuclear d-f complexes by attachment of a {Ln(dik)(3)} fragment (dik = a 1,3-diketonate) at the vacant site. When Ln = Pr, Nd, Er or Yb the lanthanide centre has low-energy f-f excited states capable of accepting energy from the (3)MLCT excited state of the Pt(II) or Re(I) centre, quenching the (3)MLCT luminescence and affording sensitised lanthanide(III)-based luminescence in the near-IR region. UV/Vis and luminescence spectroscopic titrations allowed measurement of (i) the association constants for binding of the {Ln(dik)(3)} fragment at the vacant diimine site of [Re(CO)(3)Cl(bppz)] or [Pt(CC-C(6)H(4)CF(3))(2)(bppz)], and (ii) the degree of quenching of the (3)MLCT luminescence according to the nature of the Ln(III) centre. In all cases Nd(III) was found to be the most effective of the series at quenching the (3)MLCT luminescence of the d-block component because the high density of f-f excited states of the appropriate energy make it a particularly effective energy-acceptor.     

Polynuclear cyanoruthenate chromophores based on hexaaza-triphenylene containing up to twelve cyanides: photophysical and structural properties

The complexes [Ru(CN)4(HAT)]2-, [{Ru(CN)4}2(mu2-HAT)]4- and [{Ru(CN)4}3(mu3-HAT)]6- (HAT = hexaaza-triphenylene) contain four, eight and twelve externally-directed cyanide ligands, respectively; they show strongly solvatochromic and intense MLCT absorptions, and [3]6- forms a high-dimensionality cyanide-bridged coordination network with Nd(III), in which Ru --> Nd energy transfer results in sensitised near-IR luminescence.     

Luminescent Pt(II)(bipyridyl)(diacetylide) chromophores with pendant binding sites as energy donors for sensitised near-infrared emission from lanthanides: structures and photophysics of Pt(II)/Ln(III) assemblies

The complexes [Pt(bipy){CC-(4-pyridyl)}(2)] (1) and [Pt(tBu(2)bipy){CC-(4-pyridyl)}(2)] (2) and [Pt(tBu(2)-bipy)(CC-phen)(2)] (3) all contain a Pt(bipy)(diacetylide) core with pendant 4-pyridyl (1 and 2) or phenanthroline (3) units which can be coordinated to {Ln(diketonate)(3)} fragments (Ln = a lanthanide) to make covalently-linked Pt(II)/Ln(III) polynuclear assemblies in which the Pt(II) chromophore, absorbing in the visible region, can be used to sensitise near-infrared luminescence from the Ln(III) centres. For 1 and 2 one-dimensional coordination polymers [1Ln(tta)(3)](infinity) and [2Ln(hfac)(3)](infinity) are formed, whereas 3 forms trinuclear adducts [3{Ln(hfac)(3)}(2)] (tta=anion of thenoyl-trifluoroacetone; hfac=anion of hexafluoroacetylacetone). Complexes 1-3 show typical Pt(II)-based (3)MLCT luminescence in solution at approximately 510 nm, but in the coordination polymers [1Ln(tta)(3)](infinity) and [2Ln(hfac)(3)](infinity) the presence of stacked pairs of Pt(II) units with short PtPt distances means that the chromophores have (3)MMLCT character and emit at lower energy ( approximately 630 nm). Photophysical studies in solution and in the solid state show that the (3)MMLCT luminescence in [1Ln(tta)(3)](infinity) and [2Ln(hfac)(3)](infinity) in the solid state, and the (3)MLCT emission of [3{Ln(hfac)(3)}(2)] in solution and the solid state, is quenched by Pt-->Ln energy transfer when the lanthanide has low-energy f-f excited states which can act as energy acceptors (Ln=Yb, Nd, Er, Pr). This results in sensitised near-infrared luminescence from the Ln(III) units. The extent of quenching of the Pt(II)-based emission, and the Pt-->Ln energy-transfer rates, can vary over a wide range according to how effective each Ln(III) ion is at acting as an energy acceptor, with Yb(III) usually providing the least quenching (slowest Pt-->Ln energy transfer) and either Nd(III) or Er(III) providing the most (fastest Pt-->Ln energy transfer) according to which one has the best overlap of its f-f absorption manifold with the Pt(II)-based luminescence.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of dinuclear complexes containing d-block and f-block luminophores. Sensitization of NIR luminescence from Yb(III), Nd(III), and Er(III) centers by energy transfer from Re(I)- and Pt(II)-bipyrimidine metal centers

Mononuclear complexes [Re(bpym)(CO)(3)Cl] and [Pt(bpym)(CC-C(6)H(4)CF(3))(2)] (bpym = 2,2'-bipyrimidine), in which one of the bipyrimidine sites is vacant, have been used as "complex ligands" to prepare heterodinuclear d-f complexes in which a lanthanide tris(1,3-diketonate) unit is attached to the secondary bipyrimidine site to evaluate the ability of d-block chromophores to act as antennae for causing sensitized near-infrared (NIR) luminescence from adjacent lanthanide(III) centers. The two sets of complexes so prepared are [Re(CO)(3)Cl(mu-bpym)Ln(fod)(3)] (abbreviated as Re-Ln; where Ln = Yb, Nd, Er) and [(F(3)C-C(6)H(4)-CC)(2)Pt(mu-bpym)Ln(hfac)(3)] (abbreviated as Pt-Ln; where Ln = Nd, Gd). Members of both series have been structurally characterized; the metal-metal separation across the bipyrimidine bridge is approximately 6.3 A in each case. In these complexes, the (3)MLCT (MLCT = metal to ligand charge-transfer) luminescences of the mononuclear [Re(bpym)(CO)(3)Cl] and [Pt(bpym)(CC-C(6)H(4)CF(3))(2)] complexes are quenched by energy transfer to those lanthanides (Ln = Yb, Nd, Er) that have low-lying f-f states capable of NIR luminescence; as a result, sensitized NIR luminescence is seen from the lanthanide center following excitation of the d-block unit. In the solid state, quenching of the luminescence from the d-block chromophore is complete, indicating efficient d --> f energy transfer, as a result of the short metal-metal separation across the bipyrimidine bridge. In a CH(2)Cl(2) solution, partial dissociation of the dinuclear complexes into the mononuclear units occurs, with the result that some (3)MLCT luminescence is observed from mononuclear [Re(bpym)(CO)(3)Cl] or [Pt(bpym)(CC-C(6)H(4)CF(3))(2)] present in the equilibrium mixture. Solution UV-vis and luminescence titrations, carried out by the addition of portions of Ln(fod)(3)(H(2)O)(2) or Ln(hfac)(3)(H(2)O)(2) to the d-block complex ligands, indicate that binding of the lanthanide tris(1,3-diketonate) unit at the secondary bipyrimidine site to give the d-f dinuclear complexes occurs with an association constant of ca. 10(5) M(-)(1).     

Ru(ii) sensitized lanthanide luminescence: synthesis, photophysical properties, and near-infrared luminescent determination of alpha-fetal protein (AFP)

A series of dinuclear compounds of [Ru(bpy)(2)(tpphz)Ln(TTA)(3)](PF(6))(2) (tpphz = tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3',2'-h:3',4'-j]phenazine; Ln = Er(iii), Nd(iii), Yb(iii) and Gd(iii); TTA = 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone) have been prepared by attachment of a [Ln(TTA)(3)] fragment at the vacant diimine site of the luminescent mononuclear complex [Ru(bpy)(2)(tpphz)](PF(6))(2). In the solid state, in CH(2)Cl(2) solution and in Tris-HCl buffer solution of these dinuclear complexes , sensitized near-infrared (NIR) luminescence is observed from Nd and Yb centres following excitation of the d-block unit, which results from the effective Ru → Ln (Ln = Nd, Yb) energy transfer, but no Er-based NIR luminescence is produced. The (3)MLCT (MLCT = metal to ligand charge transfer) emission is partly quenched in the complex, slightly increased in the complex, and is not changed in the complex. Interestingly, alpha-fetal protein (AFP) tends to decrease the NIR luminescence intensity of the complex in Tris-HCl buffer solution. A novel NIR luminescent method for the determination of AFP was developed with a linear range of 0.5-18 ng mL(-1), and a detection limit of 0.2 ng mL(-1) based on 3 times the ratio of the signal-to-noise. Considering the attractive features, such as good selectivity, stability and rapidity, the proposed NIR luminescent method provides promising potential for AFP detection in clinical diagnosis and biomedical applications.     

On the mechanism of d-f energy transfer in RuII/LnIII and OsII/LnIII dyads: Dexter-type energy transfer over a distance of 20 A

We have used time-resolved luminescence methods to study rates of photoinduced energy transfer (PEnT) from [M(bipy)3]2+ (M=Ru, Os) chromophores to Ln(III) ions with low-energy f-f states (Ln=Yb, Nd, Er) in d-f dyads in which the metal fragments are separated by a saturated -CH2CH2- spacer, a p-C6H4 spacer, or a p-(C6H4)2 spacer. The finding that d-->f PEnT is much faster across a conjugated p-C6H4 spacer than it is across a shorter CH2CH2 spacer points unequivocally to a Dexter-type energy transfer, involving electronic coupling mediated by the bridging ligand orbitals (superexchange) as the dominant mechanism. Comparison of the distance dependence of the Ru-->Nd energy-transfer rate across different conjugated spacers [p-C6H4 or p-(C6H4)2 groups] is also consistent with this mechanism. Observation of Ru-->Nd PEnT (as demonstrated by partial quenching of the RuII-based 3MLCT emission (MLCT=metal-to-ligand charge transfer), and the growth of sensitised NdIII-based emission at 1050 nm) over approximately 20 A by an exchange mechanism is a departure from the normal situation with lanthanides, in which long-range energy transfer often involves through-space Coulombic mechanisms.     

Enantioselective luminescence quenching of DNA light-switch [Ru(phen)2dppz]2+ by electron transfer to structural homologue [Ru(phendione)2dppz]2+

The quenching of the luminescence of [Ru(phen)(2)dppz](2+) by structural homologue [Ru(phendione)(2)dppz](2+), when both complexes are bound to DNA, has been studied for all four combinations of Delta and Lambda enantiomers. Flow linear dichroism spectroscopy (LD) indicates similar binding geometries for all the four compounds, with the dppz ligand fully intercalated between the DNA base pairs. A difference in the LD spectrum observed for the lowest-energy MLCT transition suggests that a transition, potentially related to the final localization of the excited electron to the dppz ligand in [Ru(phen)(2)dppz](2+), is overlaid by an orthogonally polarized transition in [Ru(phendione)(2)dppz](2+). This would be consistent with a low-lying LUMO of the phendione moiety of [Ru(phendione)(2)dppz](2+) that can accept the excited electron from [Ru(phen)(2)dppz](2+), thereby quenching the emission of the latter. The lifetime of excited Delta-[Ru(phen)(2)dppz](2+) is decreased moderately, from 664 to 427 ns, when bound simultaneously with the phendione complex to DNA. The 108 ns lifetime of opposite enantiomer, Lambda-[Ru(phen)(2)dppz](2+), is only shortened to 94 ns. These results are consistent with an average rate constant for electron transfer of approximately 1.10(6) s(-1) between the phenanthroline- and phendione-ruthenium complexes. At binding ratios close to saturation of DNA, the total emission of the two enantiomers is lowered equally much, but for the Lambda enantiomer, this is not paralleled by a decrease in luminescence lifetime. A binding isotherm simulation based on a generalized McGhee-von Hippel approach shows that the Delta enantiomer binds approximately 3 times stronger to DNA both for [Ru(phendione)(2)dppz](2+) and [Ru(phen)(2)dppz](2+). This explains the similar decrease in total emission, without the parallel decrease in lifetime for the Lambda enantiomer. The simulation also does not indicate any significant binding cooperativity, in contrast to the case when Delta-[Rh(phi)(2)bipy](3+) is used as quencher. The very slow electron transfer from [Ru(phen)(2)dppz](2+) to [Ru(phendione)(2)dppz](2+), compared to the case when [Rh(phi)(2)phen](3+) is the acceptor, can be explained by a much smaller driving free-energy difference.     

Sensitized near-infrared emission from complexes of YbIII, NdIII and ErIII by energy-transfer from covalently attached PtII-based antenna units

A series of dinuclear platinum(II)-lanthanide(iii) complexes has been prepared in which a square-planar Pt(II) unit, either [(PPh(3))(2)Pt(pdo)] (H(2)pdo=5,6-dihydroxyphenanthroline) or [Cl(2)Pt(dppz)] [dppz=2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine], is connected to a Ln(dik)(3) unit ("dik"=a 1,3-diketonate ligand). The mononuclear complexes [(PPh(3))(2)Pt(pdo)] and [Cl(2)Pt(dppz)] both have external, vacant N,N-donor diimine-type binding sites that react with various [Ln(dik)(3)(H(2)O)(2)] units to give complexes [(PPh(3))(2)Pt(micro-pdo)Ln(tta)(3)] (series A; Htta=thenoyltrifluoroacetone), [Cl(2)Pt(micro-dppz)Ln(tta)(3)] (series B); and [Cl(2)Pt(micro-dppz)Ln(btfa)(3)] (series C; Hbtfa=benzoyltrifluoroacetone); in all of these the lanthanide centres are eight-coordinate. The lanthanides used exhibit near-infrared luminescence (Nd, Yb, Er). Crystal structures of members of each series are described. In all complexes, excitation into the Pt-centred absorption band (at 520 nm for series A complexes; 440 nm for series B and C complexes) results in characteristic near-IR luminescence from the Nd, Yb or Er centres in both the solid state and in CH(2)Cl(2), following energy-transfer from the Pt antenna chromophore. This work demonstrates how d-block-derived chromophores, with their intense and tunable electronic transitions, can be used as sensitisers to achieve near-infrared luminescence from lanthanides in suitably designed heterodinuclear complexes based on simple bridging ligands.     

Luminescent cyanometallates based on phenylpyridine-Ir(III) units: solvatochromism, metallochromism, and energy-transfer in Ir/Ln and Ir/Re complexes

[Ir(ppy)(2)(CN)(2)](-) (ppy = anion of 2-phenylpyridine) and some substituted derivatives have been investigated for their ability to interact with additional metal cations, both in solution and the solid state, via the externally-directed cyanide lone pairs, and to act as energy-donors in the resulting assemblies. [Ir(ppy)(2)(CN)(2)](-) is slightly solvatochromic, showing a blue-shift of the lowest energy absorption manifold in water compared to organic solvents, and the solubilised (t)Bu-substituted analogue [Ir((t)Buppy)(2)(CN)(2)](-) [(t)Buppy = anion of 2-(4-(t)Bu-phenyl)pyridine] is also metallochromic with coordination of the cyanide lone pairs to two M(II) cations in MeCN (M = Ba, Zn) resulting in blue-shifts of the lowest-energy absorption and emission maxima. These effects are however modest because of (i) the presence of only two cyanide groups, and (ii) the fact that the lowest-energy excited state has a substantial (3)LC component and is therefore not purely charge-transfer in nature. Crystallisation of [Ir(ppy)(2)(CN)(2)](-) as its (PPN)(+) salt in the presence of excess of lanthanide(III) salts leads to formation of assemblies based on Ir-CN-Ln bonds, which generate in the solid state either Ir(2)Ln(2)(μ-CN)(4) square assemblies or linear trinuclear species with Ir-CN-Ln-NC-Ir cores. In the Ir(2)Eu(2)(μ-CN)(4) and Ir(2)Nd(2)(μ-CN)(4) complexes the Ir-based emission is substantially quenched due to energy-transfer to lower-lying f-f states of these lanthanide ions. In addition reaction of [Ir(F(2)ppy)(2)(CN)(2)](-) [F(2)ppy = cyclometallating anion of 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine] with [Re(phen)(CO)(3)(MeCN)][PF(6)] in solution affords dinuclear IrRe and trinuclear IrRe(2) species in which {Re(phen)(CO)(3)} units are attached to the N-donor termini of one or both of the cyanide groups; these complexes have been structurally characterised and display quantitative Ir→Re energy-transfer, showing luminescence only from the Re(I) terminus on excitation of the Ir(III) unit.     

Photoinduced energy transfer in a conformationally flexible Re(I)/Ru(II) dyad probed by time-resolved infrared spectroscopy: effects of conformation and spatial localization of excited states

The dyad RuLRe contains (Re(bpy)(CO)3Cl) and (Ru(bpy)(bpyam)2)2+ termini (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; bpyam = 4,4'-diethylamido-2,2'-bipyridine) separated by a flexible ethylene spacer. Luminescence studies reveal the expected Re --> Ru photoinduced energy transfer, with partial quenching of Re(I)-based triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (3MLCT) luminescence and consequent sensitization of the Ru(II)-based 3MLCT luminescence, which has a component with a grow-in lifetime of 0.76 (+/-0.2) ns. The presence of IR-active spectroscopic handles on both termini [CO ligands directly attached to Re(I) and amide carbonyl substituents on the bpy ligands coordinated to Ru(II)] allowed the excited-state dynamics to be studied by time-resolved IR (TRIR) spectroscopy in much more detail than allowed by luminescence methods. A combination of picosecond- and nanosecond-time-scale TRIR studies revealed the presence of at least three distinct Re --> Ru energy-transfer processes, with lifetimes of ca. 20 ps and 1 and 13 ns. This complex behavior occurs because of a combination of two different Ru-based 3MLCT states (Ru --> L and Ru --> bpyam), which are sensitized by energy transfer from the Re(I) donor at different rates; and the presence of at least two conformers of the flexible molecule RuLRe, which have different Re...Ru separations.     

Anthracene as a sensitiser for near-infrared luminescence in complexes of Nd(III), Er(III) and Yb(III): an unexpected sensitisation mechanism based on electron transfer

The ligand L(1), which contains a chelating 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole (PB) unit with a pendant anthacenyl group An connected via a methylene spacer, (L(1) = PB-An), was used to prepare the 8-coordinate lanthanide(III) complexes [Ln(hfac)(3)(L(1))] (Ln = Nd, Gd, Er, Yb) which have been structurally characterised and all have a square antiprismatic N(2)O(6) coordination geometry. Whereas free L(1) displays typical anthracene-based fluorescence, this fluorescence is completely quenched in its complexes. The An group in L(1) acts as an antenna unit: in the complexes [Ln(hfac)(3)(L(1))] (Ln = Nd, Er, Yb) selective excitation of the anthracene results in sensitised near-infrared luminescence from the lanthanide centres with concomitant quenching of An fluorescence. Surprisingly, the anthracene fluorescence is also quenched even in the Gd(III) complex and in its Zn(II) adduct in which quenching via energy transfer to the metal centre is not possible. It is proposed that the quenching of anthracene fluorescence in coordinated L(1) arises due to intra-ligand photoinduced electron-transfer from the excited anthracene chromophore (1)An* to the coordinated PB unit generating a short-lived charge-separated state [An(.+)-PB(.-)] which collapses by back electron-transfer to give (3)An*. This electron-transfer step is only possible upon coordination of L(1) to the metal centre, which strongly increases the electron acceptor capability of the PB unit, such that (1)An* --> PB PET is endoergonic in free L(1) but exergonic in its complexes. Thus, rather than a conventional set of steps ((1)An* -->(3)An* --> Ln), the sensitization mechanism now includes (1)An* --> PB photoinduced electron transfer to generate charge-separated [An(.+)-PB(.-)], then back electron-transfer to generate (3)An* which finally sensitises the Ln(III) centre via energy transfer. The presence of (3)An* in L(1) and its complexes is confirmed by nanosecond transient absorption studies, which have also shown that the (3)An* lifetime in the Nd(III) complex matches the rise time of Nd-centred near-infrared emission, confirming that the final step of the sequence is (3)An* --> Ln(III) energy-transfer.     

Near-infrared luminescent hybrid materials doped with lanthanide (Ln) complexes (Ln = Nd, Yb) and their possible laser application

The crystal structures of ternary Ln(DBM)(3)phen complexes (DBM = dibenzoylmethane, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, and Ln = Nd, Yb) and their in situ syntheses via the sol-gel process are reported. The properties of the Ln(DBM)(3)phen complexes and their corresponding Ln(3+)/DBM/phen-co-doped luminescent hybrid gels obtained via an in situ method (Ln-D-P gel) have been studied. The results reveal that the lanthanide complexes are successfully in situ synthesized in the corresponding Ln-D-P gels. Both Ln(DBM)(3)phen complexes and Ln-D-P gels display sensitized near-infrared (NIR) luminescence upon excitation at the maximum absorption of the ligands, which contributes to the efficient energy transfer from the ligands to the Ln(3+) ions (Ln = Nd, Yb), an antenna effect. The radiative properties of the Nd(3+) ion in a Nd-D-P gel are discussed using Judd-Ofelt analysis, which indicates that the (4)F(3/2) --> (4)I(11/2) transition of the Nd(3+) ion in the Nd-D-P gel can be considered as a possible laser transition.     

Re(I) sensitised near-infrared lanthanide luminescence from a hetero-trinuclear Re2Ln array

The trinuclear complexes Re2Ln (Ln = Nd, Yb or Er) contain two Re(I) tricarbonyl units linked to a DTPA binding site via 2,2'-bipyridyl ligands; Ln(III)-centred emission is sensitised by the Re(I) MLCT excited states.