Long‐Lived Room‐Temperature Near‐IR Phosphorescence of BODIPY in a Visible‐Light‐Harvesting N^C^N PtII–Acetylide Complex with a Directly Metalated BODIPY Chromophore

Room‐temperature long‐lived near‐IR phosphorescence of boron‐dipyrromethene (BODIPY) was observed (λ_em=770 nm, Φ_P=3.5 %, τ_P=128.4 μs). Our molecular‐design strategy is to attach Pt^II coordination centers directly onto the BODIPY π‐core using acetylide bonds, rather than on the periphery of the BODIPY core, thus maximizing the heavy‐atom effect of Pt^II. In this case, the intersystem crossing (ISC) is facilitated and the radiative decay of the T₁ excited state of BODIPY is observed, that is, the phosphorescence of BODIPY. The complex shows strong absorption in the visible range (ε=53800 M ^?1 cm^?1 at 574 nm), which is rare for Pt^II–acetylide complexes. The complex is dual emissive with ³M LCT emission at 660 nm and the ³IL emission at 770 nm. The T₁ excited state of the complex is mainly localized on the BODIPY moiety (i.e. ³IL state, as determined by steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopy, 77 K emission spectra, and spin‐density analysis). The strong visible‐light‐harvesting ability and long‐lived T₁ excite state of the complex were used for triplet‐triplet annihilation based upconversion and an upconversion quantum yield of 5.2 % was observed. The overall upconversion capability (η=ε×Φ_UC) of this complex is remarkable considering its strong absorption. The model complex, without the BODIPY moiety, gives no upconversion under the same experimental conditions. Our work paves the way for access to transition‐metal complexes that show strong absorption of visible light and long‐lived ³IL excited states, which are important for applications in photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and upconversions, etc.     

Tetrabrominated Lead Naphthalocyanine for Optical Power Limiting

The complex 2,(3)‐tetrabromo‐3,(2)‐tetra[(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl)phenyloxy]‐naphthalocyaninato lead [Br₄(tBu₂C₆H₃O)₄NcPb, 1 ] has been prepared and its optical limiting properties for ns light pulses have been measured. Complex 1 behaves as a reverse saturable absorber within the spectral range 440–720 nm with a limiting threshold of 0.1 J cm^?2 at 532 nm. The lifetime of the absorbing triplet excited state has been evaluated as 3.8×10^?7 s and the quantum yield of triplet formation has been measured as 0.07 in toluene. The nonlinear optical transmission properties of complex 1 have also been determined in Plexiglas [naphthalocyanine content: 5.0×10^?4 M (0.1 % by weight)]. A reversible nonlinear absorption was again observed for a fluence above 0.4 J cm^?2, but through different excited‐state dynamics. This may be rationalized in terms of aggregation of the molecule in the polymer matrix.     

Highly Efficient Triplet Photosensitizers: A Systematic Approach to the Application of IrIII Complexes containing Extended Phenanthrolines

A series of Ir^III complexes, based on 1,10‐phenanthroline featuring aryl acetylene chromophores, were prepared and investigated as triplet photosensitizers. The complexes were synthesized by Sonogashira cross‐coupling reactions using a “chemistry‐on‐the‐complex” method. The absorption properties and luminescence lifetimes were successfully tuned by controlling the number and type of light‐harvesting group. Intense UV/Vis absorption was observed for the Ir^III complexes with two light‐harvesting groups at the 3‐ and 8‐positions of the phenanthroline. The asymmetric Ir^III complex (with a triphenylamine (TPA) and a pyrene moiety attached) exhibited the longest lifetime. Red emission was observed for all the complexes in deaerated solutions at room temperature. Their emission at low temperature (77 K) and nanosecond time‐resolved transient difference absorption spectra revealed the origin of their triplet excited states. The singlet‐oxygen (¹O₂) sensitization and triplet‐triplet annihilation (TTA)‐based upconversion were explored. Highly efficient TTA upconversion (Φ_UC=28.1 %) and ¹O₂ sensitization (Φ_Δ=97.0 %) were achieved for the asymmetric Ir^III complex, which showed intense absorption in the visible region (λ_abs=482 nm, ?=50900 m ^?1 cm^?1) and had a long‐lived triplet excited state (53.3 μs at RT).     

Iridium(III) Complexes Bearing Pyrene‐Functionalized 1,10‐Phenanthroline Ligands as Highly Efficient Sensitizers for Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion

“Chemistry‐on‐the‐complex” synthetic methods have allowed the selective addition of 1‐ethynylpyrene appendages to the 3‐, 5‐, 3,8‐ and 5,6‐positions of Ir^III‐coordinated 1,10‐phenanthroline via Sonogashira cross‐coupling. The resulting suite of complexes has given rise to the first rationalization of their absorption and emission properties as a function of the number and position of the pyrene moieties. Strong absorption in the visible region (e.g. 3,8‐substituted Ir‐3 : λ_abs=481 nm, ?=52 400 m ^?1 cm^?1) and long‐lived triplet excited states (e.g. 5‐substituted Ir‐2 : τ_T=367.7 μs) were observed for the complexes in deaerated CH₂Cl₂. On testing the series as triplet sensitizers for triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion, those Ir^III complexes bearing pyrenyl appendages at the 3‐ and 3,8‐positions ( Ir‐1 , Ir‐3 ) were found to give optimal upconversion quantum yields (30.2 % and 31.6 % respectively).     

Broadband Visible‐Light‐Harvesting trans‐Bis(alkylphosphine) Platinum(II)‐Alkynyl Complexes with Singlet Energy Transfer between BODIPY and Naphthalene Diimide Ligands

A heteroleptic bis(tributylphosphine) platinum(II)‐alkynyl complex ( Pt‐1 ) showing broadband visible‐light absorption was prepared. Two different visible‐light‐absorbing ligands, that is, ethynylated boron‐dipyrromethene (BODIPY) and a functionalized naphthalene diimide (NDI) were used in the molecule. Two reference complexes, Pt‐2 and Pt‐3 , which contain only the NDI or BODIPY ligand, respectively, were also prepared. The coordinated BODIPY ligand shows absorption at 503 nm and fluorescence at 516 nm, whereas the coordinated NDI ligand absorbs at 594 nm; the spectral overlap between the two ligands ensures intramolecular resonance energy transfer in Pt‐1 , with BODIPY as the singlet energy donor and NDI as the energy acceptor. The complex shows strong absorption in the region 450 nm–640 nm, with molar absorption coefficient up to 88 000 M ^?1 cm^?1. Long‐lived triplet excited states lifetimes were observed for Pt‐1 – Pt‐3 (36.9 μs, 28.3 μs, and 818.6 μs, respectively). Singlet and triplet energy transfer processes were studied by the fluorescence/phosphorescence excitation spectra, steady‐state and time‐resolved UV/Vis absorption and luminescence spectra, as well as nanosecond time‐resolved transient difference absorption spectra. A triplet‐state equilibrium was observed for Pt‐1 . The complexes were used as triplet photosensitizers for triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion, with upconversion quantum yields up to 18.4 % being observed for Pt‐1 .     

Theoretical studies of ground and excited electronic states in a series of heteroleptic iridium complexes using density functional theory

A series of new heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes [Ir(C^?N)₂(N^?N)]PF₆ ( 1 ‐ 6 ) (each with two cyclometalating C^?N ligands and one neutral N^?N ancillary ligand, where C^?N = 2‐phenylpyridine (ppy), 5‐methyl‐2‐(4‐fluoro)phenylpyridine (F‐mppy), and N^?N = 2,2′‐dipyridyl (bpy), 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen), 4,4′‐diphenyl‐2,2′‐dipyridy (dphphen) were found to have rich photophysical properties. Theoretical calculations are employed for studying the photophysical and electrochemical properties. All complexes are investigated using density functional theory. Excited singlet and triplet states are examined using time‐dependent density functional theory. The low‐lying excited‐state geometries are optimized at the ab initio configuration interaction singles level. Then, the excited‐state properties are investigated in detail, including absorption and emission properties, photoactivation processes. The excited state of complexes is complicated and contains triplet metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer, triplet ligand‐to‐ligand charge transfer simultaneously. Importantly, the absorption spectra and emission maxima can be tuned significantly by changing the N^?N ligands and C^?N ligands. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

The nature of the lowest excited state and photosubstitution reactivity of tetracarbonyl-1,10-phenanthrolinetungsten(0) and related complexes

Absorption and emission spectral studies of M(CO)₄L complexes (M = Cr Mo, W; L = 2,2′-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 5-CH₃-, 5-Cl-, 5-Br-, 5-NO₂-1,10-phenanthroline) have been carried out and reveal that the lowest excited state in every case is charge-transfer (CT) in character, M→ CT in absorption, and in no case do the ligand field (LF) excited states cross below the CT state. Minimum energies of the LF states have been established by the spectroscopic study of cis-bis(pyridine)- and cis-bis(aliphatic amine)-tetracarbonylmetal(0) complexes which all have LF lowest excited states for M = Mo, W. For the M(CO)₄L complexes emission is detectable for M = Mo or W and occurs in the range 14.40-15.66 kK with lifetimes of 7.9-13.3 μsec and quantum yields of 0.02–0.09 all in EPA solution at 77 K. For the bis-pyridine and -aliphatic amine complexes emission occurs only from the W complexes and is of the order of 3.0–4.0 kK higher in energy than for the M(CO)₄L complexes. Photosubstitution of pyridine is efficient in cis-W(CO)₄(py)₂ (py = pyridine): Φ_436nm = 0.23; Φ_405nm = 0.27; and Φ_366nm = 0.23. The M(CO)₄L complexes have strongly wavelength dependent, but modest, quantum yields for CO substitution and show that the lowest CT state is unreactive. Typical values for CO substitution for M = W and L = 1,10-phenanthroline are: Φ_436nm = 1.6 × 10^?4; Φ_405nm = 1.2 × 10^?3; Φ_366nm = 9.2 × 10^?3; and Φ_313nm = 2.2 × 10^?2.     

Photophysical Properties and OLED Applications of Phosphorescent Platinum(II) Schiff Base Complexes

The syntheses, crystal structures, and detailed investigations of the photophysical properties of phosphorescent platinum(II) Schiff base complexes are presented. All of these complexes exhibit intense absorption bands with λ_max in the range 417–546 nm, which are assigned to states of metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer (¹MLCT) ¹[Pt(5d)→π*(Schiff base)] character mixed with ¹[lone pair(phenoxide)→π*(imine)] charge‐transfer character. The platinum(II) Schiff base complexes are thermally stable, with decomposition temperatures up to 495 °C, and show emission λ_max at 541–649 nm in acetonitrile, with emission quantum yields up to 0.27. Measurements of the emission decay times in the temperature range from 130 to 1.5 K give total zero‐field splitting parameters of the emitting triplet state of 14–28 cm^?1. High‐performance yellow to red organic light‐emitting devices (OLEDs) using these platinum(II) Schiff base complexes have been fabricated with the best efficiency up to 31 cd A^?1 and a device lifetime up to 77 000 h at 500 cd m^?2.     

Theoretical study of complexes of Ti-doped aluminide cluster Al@Al11Ti with ligands L containing multiple bonds

The Al₁₂Ti(π-L) complexes with ligands L = C₂H₂, C₂H₄, HCN, N₂H₂, C₆H₆, and N₂ in the singlet and triplet states have been calculated within the B3LYP approximation of the density functional theory using the 6–31G* basis set. Their calculated structures and properties have been compared with the results of analogous calculations of the titanium porphyrin complexes with the same ligands L. It has been demonstrated that, in both series of compounds, the side-on coordination of the ligands (through the multiple bond, π type) to the titanium atom is accompanied by the weakening and elongation of the C-C, C-N, and N-N bonds by 0.05–0.20Å and the long-wavelength shift of the stretching vibration modes ν_str(CC), ν_str(CN), and ν_str(NN) by a few hundreds of cm^?1. For the Ti aluminide complexes, these activation effects are much more clearly pronounced than for their Ti porphyrin analogues. The aluminide complexes (except the nitrogenyl one) have the singlet ground state; however, the nearest triplet is close lying to the singlet (within 1–14 kcal/mol). The singlet is characterized by the considerable electron density transfer from the Al₁₂Ti cluster to the ligand L, the displacement of the Ti atom from the aluminum cage to the ligand, and the distortion of the Al₁₂ cage. In the triplet states, the ligand activation depends on the character of spin density delocalization between the ligand, the Ti atom, and the Al₁₂ cage. If the spin density is distributed between the Ti atom and the Al₁₂ cage or if both unpaired electrons are localized on the Ti atom, then the structure, stability, and spectroscopic properties of the “active” Ti-L moiety in these triplets differ only slightly from those in the singlet state. If the spin density is distributed between the Ti atom and the ligand, the singlet-triplet excitation is accompanied by the elongation and weakening of the Ti-ligand bond and the decrease in the ligand activation effect. Complexes with several ligands L coordinated to the Ti atom in the Al₁₂Ti cluster have been calculated. There are some trends in the change in the molecular characteristics of the Ti-ligand bonds in different series of the complexes.     

Triplet state quenching by ruthenocene

Ruthenocene quenches triplet states of organic molecules with energies greater than 24000 cm^?1 in benzene solution at a diffusion controlled rate , (6 ± 1) × 10⁹ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1. For triplets with energies less than this the efficiency of quenching is dependent on the energy of the triplet state being quenched but drops off less acutely than expected for endothermic energy transfer following the Arrhenius equation. This is in agreement with the lowest triplet state of ruthenocene being geometrically distorted as expected from the previously observed large Stokes shift between absorption to and emission from its lowest triplet state. Similarities to ferrocene quenching of triplet states are discussed. Quenching of the triplet state of benzil by ruthenocene does not fall on the smooth curve which exists between the quenching rate constants k_q and the energy of the triplet state being quenched. Queching of triplet benzil by ruthenocene is therefore attributed to favourable charge-transfer interactions, also in this case the behaviour is analogous to quenching of triplet methylene-blue by ferrocene where at least a proportion of electron transfer following quenching has been previously established.     

Energy‐Funneling‐Based Broadband Visible‐Light‐Absorbing Bodipy–C60 Triads and Tetrads as Dual Functional Heavy‐Atom‐Free Organic Triplet Photosensitizers for Photocatalytic Organic Reactions

C₆₀–bodipy triads and tetrads based on the energy‐funneling effect that show broadband absorption in the visible region have been prepared as novel triplet photosensitizers. The new photosensitizers contain two or three different light‐harvesting antennae associated with different absorption wavelengths, resulting in a broad absorption band (450–650 nm). The panchromatic excitation energy harvested by the bodipy moieties is funneled into a spin converter (C₆₀), thus ensuring intersystem crossing and population of the triplet state. Nanosecond time‐resolved transient absorption and spin density analysis indicated that the T₁ state is localized on either C₆₀ or the antennae, depending on the T₁ energy levels of the two entities. The antenna‐localized T₁ state shows a longer lifetime (τ_T=132.9 μs) than the C₆₀‐localized T₁ state (ca. 27.4 μs). We found that the C₆₀ triads and tetrads can be used as dual functional photocatalysts, that is, singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and superoxide radical anion (O₂ ^{. ?}) photosensitizers. In the photooxidation of naphthol to juglone, the ¹O₂ photosensitizing ability of the C₆₀ triad is a factor of 8.9 greater than the conventional triplet photosensitizers tetraphenylporphyrin and methylene blue. The C₆₀ dyads and triads were also used as photocatalysts for O₂ ^{. ?}‐mediated aerobic oxidation of aromatic boronic acids to produce phenols. The reaction times were greatly reduced compared with when [Ru(bpy)₃Cl₂] was used as photocatalyst. Our study of triplet photosensitizers has shown that broadband absorption in the visible spectral region and long‐lived triplet excited states can be useful for the design of new heavy‐atom‐free organic triplet photosensitizers and for the application of these triplet photosensitizers in photo‐organocatalysis.     

Molekülstrukturen von Kupfer(II)- und Eisen(III)-Chlorokomplexen mit di- und monoprotoniertem N-(Pyrid-2-ylmethyl)ethylendiamin-N,N′,N′-triacetat (H2pedta−; Hpedta2−)

Molecular Structures of Copper(II) and Iron(III) Chloro Complexes with di- and monoprotonated N-(pyrid-2-ylmethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′,N′-triacetate (H₂pedta^?; Hpedta^2?) The molecular structures of two complexes of di- and monoprotonated N-(pyrid-2-ylmethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′,N′ -triacetate (pedta^3?) with Cu^II and Fe^III as central atoms have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Both complexes have a distorted octahedral coordination with H₂pedta^? and Hpedta^2? as pentadentate ligands and a chloride ion occupying the sixth coordination site. The different oxidation states of the central atoms result in a completely different coordination behaviour of the carboxyl groups. In both complexes one of the ? CH₂? COOH groups is uncoordinated. In the Fe^III complex, the central atom is coordinated by the hydroxylic O atoms of the deprotonated carboxyl groups. Contrary to this in the Cu^II complex, the central atom is coordinated by the carbonylic O atoms. One of the coordinated carboxyl groups is protonated and the other is deprotonated. All protonated carboxyl groups in both complexes form intermolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Mn(III) and Cu(II) complexes of 1-((3-(dimethylamino)propylimino)methyl) naphthalen-2-ol): Synthesis,characterization, catecholase and phenoxazinone synthase activity and DFT-TDDFT study

Two new complexes, [MnL₂](ClO₄) (1) and [CuL₂] (2) (where LH = (E)-1-((3-(dimethylamino)propylimino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol), have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic techniques and their molecular structures are established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. Complex 1 adopts an octahedral geometry around the central manganese atom which is in + 3 oxidation state, whereas in complex 2, the Cu⁺² ion preferred a square pyramidal environment around it through the ligand donor atoms. Both complexes were tested for catecholase and phenoxazinone synthase activity. Complex 1 catalyzes the oxidation of 3,5-ditertiary-butyl catechol with a k_cat value of 6.8424 × 10² h^?1 in acetonitrile whereas the same for complex 2 is 3.7485 × 10² h^?1 in methanol. Phenoxazinone synthase activity was shown only by complex 2 having k_cat = 74.225 h^?1. Structures of both the title complexes have been optimized by means of DFT calculations. Experimental electronic spectra of the complexes have been corroborated by TDDFT analysis. Electrochemical investigations by means of cyclic voltammetry have been carried out to study the electron transfer processes in the complexes.     

Long-lived Triplet Excited State of Perylenemonoimide (PMI) in a Diimine Pt(II) Bis-acetylide Complex: Preparation and Study of the Photophysical Property with Transient Spectra

We prepared a N^N Pt(II) bisacetylide complex that has strong absorption of visible light (molar absorption coefficients ϵ=6.7×10⁴ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 570 nm), and the singlet oxygen quantum yield (Φ_Δ) is up to 78 %. Femtosecond transient absorption spectra show the intersystem crossing (ISC) of the complex takes 81.8 ps, nanosecond transient absorption spectra show the triplet excited state lifetime is 7.6 μs. Density functional theory (DFT) computation demonstrated that the S₁ and T₁ states are mainly localized on the perylenemonoimide (PMI) ligands, although the involvement of the Pt(II) centre is noticeable. The complex was used as triplet photosensitizer to generate delayed fluorescence with perylenebisimide (PBI) as the triplet state energy acceptor and emitter, via the intermolecular triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET) and triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA), the delayed fluorescence lifetime is up to 52.5 μs under the experimental conditions.     

Photoinduced charge transfer in porphyrin-C60 oligomer

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) between C₆₀ and porphyrin (P) in a new polymer containing porphyrin, poly(p-phenylenevinylene), and pendant fullerene units has been investigated by nanosecond transient absorption and phosphorescence spectroscopy. Compared to the physically doping material systems, binding porphyrin/C₆₀ through chemical bonds in a polymer detains the formation of the triplet states of porphyrins and C₆₀. The formation of intermediate charge transfer state (CSS) of P⁺-C₆₀ ^? was observed, which led to the delayed formation of triplet states of porphyrins and C₆₀. The reduced opto-electronic properties, such as optical limiting performance, were also observed, which resulted from the delayed formation of triplet states. The results presented in this article are significant in understanding the complicated spectral characteristics of the triplet state and charge transfer of the porphyrin and C₆₀ complexes, and are therefore related to the controllable performance of the new materials in applications.     

Untersuchung reversibler Photoprozesse durch Blitzlichtphotolyse IV. Triplettzustände des 1, 3, 6′, 8′- tetramethyl-dehydrodianthrons

By means of the flash photolysis technique, transient absorption spectra attributed to tetramethyl-dehydrodianthrone (TMD) in both the photochromic and triplet states have been investigated in polymethylmethacrylate matrices and in the solvent triacetin. In polymethylmethacrylate matrices and in rigid glasses of triacetin the triplet state of TMD is heavily populated. Triplet-triplet absorption and phosphorescence measurements show that below 180°K the triplet decay follows first order kinetics with the decay constant k=11,3 ± 0,1 s^?1. In incompletely solidified triacetin glass it is possible to monitor the transient absorption of the photochromic and the triplet state simultaneously. It is shown that the photochromic state ¹A₁* is not generated via the triplet state. Therefore the authors suggest a kinetic scheme characterised by a direct singlet state - photochromic state transition.     

Long‐Lived,Directional Photoinduced Charge Separation in RuII Complexes Bearing Laminate Polypyridyl Ligands

Ru^II complexes incorporating both amide‐linked bithiophene donor ancillary ligands and laminate acceptor ligands; dipyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine (dppz), tetrapyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c:3′′,2′′‐h:2′′′,3′′′‐j]phenazine (tpphz), and 9,11,20,22‐tetraazatetrapyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c:3′′,2′′‐l:2′′′,3′′′]‐pentacene (tatpp) exhibit long‐lived charge separated (CS) states, which have been analyzed using time‐resolved transient absorption (TA), fluorescence, and electronic absorption spectroscopy in addition to ground state electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical measurements. These complexes possess two electronically relevant ³MLCT states related to electron occupation of MOs localized predominantly on the proximal “bpy‐like” portion and central (or distal) “phenazine‐like” portion of the acceptor ligand as well as energetically similar ³LC and ³ILCT states. The unusually long excited state lifetimes (τ up to 7 μs) observed in these complexes reflect an equilibration of the ³MLCT_prox or ³MLCT_dist states with additional triplet states, including a ³LC state and a ³ILCT state that formally localizes a hole on the bithiophene moiety and an electron on the laminate acceptor ligand. Coordination of a Zn^II ion to the open coordination site of the laminate acceptor ligand is observed to significantly lower the energy of the ³MLCT_dist state by decreasing the magnitude of the excited state dipole and resulting in much shorter excited state lifetimes. The presence of the bithiophene donor group is reported to substantially extend the lifetime of these Zn adducts via formation of a ³ILCT state that can equilibrate with the ³MLCT_dist state. In tpphz complexes, Zn^II coordination can reorder the energy of the ³MLCT_prox and ³MLCT_dist states such that there is a distinct switch from one state to the other. The net result is a series of complexes that are capable of forming CS states with electron–hole spatial separation of up to 14 Å and possess exceptionally long lifetimes by equilibration with other triplet states.     

Deep Red Emitting Heteroleptic Ir(III) Complexes that Incorporate Unsymmetrical 4-quinoline Carboxylic Acid Derived Ligands

Six disubstituted ligands based upon 2-(2′-pyridinyl/pyrazinyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acids have been synthesised, solvent-free, in one step from a range of commercially available isatin derivatives. These species behave as ancillary chelating ligands for Ir(III) complexes of the form [Ir(C^N)₂(N^N)]PF₆ (where C^N=cyclometalating ligand; N^N=2-(2′-pyridinyl/pyrazinyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acids). An X-ray crystallographic study on one complex shows a distorted octahedral geometry wherein a cis-C,C and trans-N,N coordination mode is observed for the cyclometalating ligands. DFT calculations predicted that variations in N^N ligand from 2,2′-bipyridine to L^{1 – 6} should localise the LUMO on to the Lⁿ ligand and that the complexes are predicted to display MLCT/LLCT character. All complexes displayed luminescence in the deep red part of the visible region (674–679 nm) and emit from triplet states, but with little apparent tuning as a function of L^{1 – 6} . Further time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy supports the participation of these triplet states to the excited state character.     

The triplet state of 4-nitro-N,N-dimethynaphthylamine

Nanosecond laser photolytic studies of 4-nitro-N,N-dimethylnaphthylamine (4-NDMNA) in nonpolar and polar solvents at room temperature show a transient species with an absorption maximum in the 500-510-nm range. This species is assigned to the lowest triplet excited state of 4-NDMNA. The absorption maximum of this state is independent of solvent polarity, and its lifetime is a function of the hydrogen donor efficiency of the solvent. In n-hexane the lifetime 1/k of the triplet state is 9.1 × 10^?6 sec, while in acetonitrile 1/k is 2.0 × 10^?7 sec. The hydrogen abstraction rate constant k_H of the triplet state with tributyl tin hydride (Bu₃SnH) in n-hexane is 1.7 × 10⁷M^?1·sec^?1, while in the case of isopropyl alcohol as hydrogen donor, k_H is 4.0 × 10⁷M^?1·sec^?1. The activation energy for the hydrogen abstraction by the triplet state from Bu₃SnH in deaerated n-hexane is 0.6 kcal/mol. The lack of spectral shift with increasing solvent polarity, and the appreciable hydrogen abstraction reactivity of the triplet state, also independent of solvent polarity, seem to indicate that this excited state is an n-π* state which retains its n-π* character even in polar media.     

Long‐Lived Room‐Temperature Deep‐Red‐Emissive Intraligand Triplet Excited State of Naphthalimide in Cyclometalated IrIII Complexes and its Application in Triplet‐Triplet Annihilation‐Based Upconversion

Cyclometalated Ir^III complexes with acetylide ppy and bpy ligands were prepared (ppy=2‐phenylpyridine, bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine) in which naphthal ( Ir‐2 ) and naphthalimide (NI) were attached onto the ppy ( Ir‐3 ) and bpy ligands ( Ir‐4 ) through acetylide bonds. [Ir(ppy)₃] ( Ir‐1 ) was also prepared as a model complex. Room‐temperature phosphorescence was observed for the complexes; both neutral and cationic complexes Ir‐3 and Ir‐4 showed strong absorption in the visible range (ε=39600 M ^?1 cm^?1 at 402 nm and ε=25100 M ^?1 cm^?1 at 404 nm, respectively), long‐lived triplet excited states (τ_T=9.30 μs and 16.45 μs) and room‐temperature red emission (λ_em=640 nm, Φ_p=1.4 % and λ_em=627 nm, Φ_p=0.3 %; cf. Ir‐1 : ε=16600 M ^?1 cm^?1 at 382 nm, τ_em=1.16 μs, Φ_p=72.6 %). Ir‐3 was strongly phosphorescent in non‐polar solvent (i.e., toluene), but the emission was completely quenched in polar solvents (MeCN). Ir‐4 gave an opposite response to the solvent polarity, that is, stronger phosphorescence in polar solvents than in non‐polar solvents. Emission of Ir‐1 and Ir‐2 was not solvent‐polarity‐dependent. The T₁ excited states of Ir‐2 , Ir‐3 , and Ir‐4 were identified as mainly intraligand triplet excited states (³IL) by their small thermally induced Stokes shifts (ΔE_s), nanosecond time‐resolved transient difference absorption spectroscopy, and spin‐density analysis. The complexes were used as triplet photosensitizers for triplet‐triplet annihilation (TTA) upconversion and quantum yields of 7.1 % and 14.4 % were observed for Ir‐2 and Ir‐3 , respectively, whereas the upconversion was negligible for Ir‐1 and Ir‐4 . These results will be useful for designing visible‐light‐harvesting transition‐metal complexes and for their applications as triplet photosensitizers for photocatalysis, photovoltaics, TTA upconversion, etc.