Synthesis and luminescence properties of spherical bridged polysilsequioxanes activated by lanthanide ions

Luminescent microspherical bridged polysilsequioxane were prepared by heating the mixture of lanthanide ions (EuCl₃ or TbCl₃) and bis-silylated bipyridine having dual roles, i.e. the bipyridine moieties can sensitize the luminescence of Eu³⁺ (or Tb³⁺) ions and the alkoxysilane substituent can be hydrolyzed and condensed via sol–gel process to create inorganic silica framework. The obtained microspheres were systematically investigated by IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, absorption spectroscopy, PL excitation and emission spectroscopy. IR spectra indicate that the silylated bipyridine has been hydrolyzed under the reaction conditions. SEM images show the microspherical morphology of the luminescent materials. It has been confirmed that the strong luminescence of the spherical bridged polysilsequioxanes is due to the effective energy transfer from the silylated bipyridine to the chelated lanthanide ions.     

Preparation,characterization and luminescence of transparent thin film of ionogels

The sol–gel fabrication of luminescent and transparent thin film of ionogels containing trivalent lanthanide complexes have been obtained from the silylated ionic liquid in the presence of lanthanide salts (Ln³⁺, Ln=Tb and Eu) and organic ligands. The resulting thin films were investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and luminescence spectroscopy. FT-IR spectra reveal the hydrolysis and condensation of the silylated ionic liquid as well as the formation of luminescent lanthanide complexes in the thin films. Scanning electronic microscope images show the homogeneous characteristic of the thin films.     

Photophysical Properties of Lanthanide (Eu3+, Tb3+) Hybrid Soft Gels of Double Functional Linker of Ionic Liquid–Modified Silane

Four kinds of luminescent hybrid soft gels have been assembled by introducing the lanthanide (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺) tetrakis β‐diketonate into the covalently bonded imidazolium‐based silica through electrostatic interactions. Here, the imidazolium‐based silica matrices are prepared from imidazolium‐derived organotriethoxysilanes by the sol–gel process, in which the imidazolium cations are strongly anchored within the silica matrices while anions can still be exchanged following application for functionalization of lanthanide complexes. The photoluminescence measurements indicated that these hybrid soft gels exhibit characteristic red and green luminescence originating from the corresponding ternary lanthanide ions (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺). Further investigation of photophysical properties reveals that these soft gels have inherited the outstanding luminescent properties from the lanthanide tetrakis β‐diketonate complexes such as strong luminescence intensities, long lifetimes and high luminescence quantum efficiencies.     

Visible light sensitized attapulgite-based lanthanide composites: microstructure, photophysical behaviour and biological application

Attapulgite, an extremely stable fibrillar mineral present in nature, is a promising new carrier of luminescent lanthanide complexes for further applications. A europium complex Eu(DBM)(3)(H(2)O)(2) (HDBM = dibenzoylmethane) was covalently coupled onto modified attapulgites (or silica nanoparticles) via a ligand exchange reaction, generating attapulgite-based ternary europium complexes. The composites were characterized by CHN elemental analysis, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) for Eu(3+) content, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG) and UV-vis absorption spectra. The results indicate that the Eu(3+) complex was grafted covalently to the outer surfaces of attapulgites (or silica nanoparticles) and modifications by coupling agents containing different alkoxide groups (aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) or aminopropylmethyldiethoxysilane (APMDES)) led to different grafting ratios. The structures of these composites were further evidenced by the determination of photophysical behaviours and coordinated water molecules of the complexes linked to matrices. Attapulgite-based lanthanide composites linked by APTES can be excited by visible light, with a wide excitation wavelength range from UV to visible light (a maximum at 398 nm), long luminescence lifetime (503 μs), high quantum yield (48%) and improved exposure durability. When incubated with HeLa cells at 37 °C, the fluorescence of matrix-APTES-cpa-Eu(DBM)(3) is observed on the cell membrane. Moreover, the low cytotoxicity of our present system results in potential applications for cell imaging in biological systems.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of new Ln(III) (Ln = Eu(III), Gd(III), or Tb(III)) complexes of 1-amidino-O-methylurea

Three new solid lanthanide(III) complexes, [Ln(1-AMUH)₃] · (NO₃)₃ (1-AMUH = 1-amidino-O-methylurea; Ln = Eu(III), Gd(III), or Tb(III)) were synthesised and characterised by elemental analysis, infrared spectra, magnetic moment measurement, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra for Gd(III) complex. The formation of lanthanide(III) complexes is confirmed by the spectroscopic studies. The photophysical properties of Gd(III), Eu(III), and Tb(III) complexes in solid state were investigated. The Tb(III) complex exhibits the strongest green emission at 543 nm and the Eu(III) complex shows a red emission at 615 nm while the Gd(III) complex shows a weak emission band at 303 nm. Under excitation with UV light, these complexes exhibited an emission characteristic of central metal ions. The powder EPR spectrum of the Gd(III) complex at 300 K exhibits a single broad band with g = 2.025. The bi-exponential nature of the decay lifetime curve is observed in the Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes. The results reveal them to have potential as luminescent materials.     

The Photophysical Properties of Quaternary Lanthanide (Eu3+, Tb3+, Sm3+, Dy3+) Functional Molecular Complexes

Summary. In this paper, according to the molecular fragment principle, a series of twelve quaternary luminescent lanthanide complex molecular systems were assembled. Both elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy allowed to determine the complexes formula: Ln(Nic)₃(L)·H₂O, where Ln=Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy; HNic=pyridine-3-carboxylic acid; L=N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), pyrrolidone (pyro). The photophysical properties of these functional molecular systems were studied by recording both ultraviolet-visible absorption, phosphorescence, fluorescence excitation, and emission spectra. It was found that the conjugated pyridine-3-carboxylic acid acts as the main energy donor and luminescence sensitizer due to the suitable energy match and effective energy transfer to the luminescent Ln ³⁺ ions. Amide molecules (DMF, DMA, pyro) were only used as assistant structural ligands to enhance the luminescence. Especially the europium complexes show the strongest luminescence due to the optimum energy transfer between the HNic triplet state energy level and Eu³⁺.     

Luminescent double-decker type guanine octets with trivalent lanthanide cations: in situ self-assembling and stability evaluation in homogeneous organic media

Silylated guanine formed luminescent double-decker type octet complexes with trivalent lanthanide cations (lanthanide cation : guanine = 1:8) in organic media, while a deaminated guanine derivative gave only 1:2 complexes. The octet formation was evidenced by characteristic UV/Vis absorption changes, CSI-TOF MS and ¹H NMR spectra. The octet with Tb³⁺ showed intense green luminescence with a long lifetime by photo-excitation of the guanine chromophore. The trivalent lanthanie cations stabilized the octets more effectively than common mono- and divalent metal cations.     

DNA Intercalating Near-Infrared Luminescent Lanthanide Complexes Containing Dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine (dppz) Ligands: Synthesis,Crystal Structures,Stability, Luminescence Properties and CT-DNA Interaction

In order to create near-infrared (NIR) luminescent lanthanide complexes suitable for DNA-interaction, novel lanthanide dppz complexes with general formula [Ln(NO₃)₃(dppz)₂] (Ln = Nd³⁺, Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺; dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine) were synthesized, characterized and their luminescence properties were investigated. In addition, analogous compounds with other lanthanide ions (Ln = Ce³⁺, Pr³⁺, Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, Dy³⁺, Ho³⁺, Tm³⁺, Lu³⁺) were prepared. All complexes were characterized by IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the complexes (Ln = La³⁺, Ce³⁺, Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Eu³⁺, Er³⁺, Yb³⁺, Lu³⁺) showed that the lanthanide’s first coordination sphere can be described as a bicapped dodecahedron, made up of two bidentate dppz ligands and three bidentate-coordinating nitrate anions. Efficient energy transfer was observed from the dppz ligand to the lanthanide ion (Nd³⁺, Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺), while relatively high luminescence lifetimes were detected for these complexes. In their excitation spectra, the maximum of the strong broad band is located at around 385 nm and this wavelength was further used for excitation of the chosen complexes. In their emission spectra, the following characteristic NIR emission peaks were observed: for a) Nd³⁺: ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_9/2 (870.8 nm), ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_11/2 (1052.7 nm) and ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_13/2 (1334.5 nm); b) Er³⁺: ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 (1529.0 nm) c) Yb³⁺: ²F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 (977.6 nm). While its low triplet energy level is ideally suited for efficient sensitization of Nd³⁺ and Er³⁺, the dppz ligand is considered not favorable as a sensitizer for most of the visible emitting lanthanide ions, due to its low-lying triplet level, which is too low for the accepting levels of most visible emitting lanthanides. Furthermore, the DNA intercalation ability of the [Nd(NO₃)₃(dppz)₂] complex with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was confirmed using fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Recent advances in the sensitized luminescence of organic europium complexes

In this paper, recent advances in the synthesis, mechanism of sensitized emission, and luminescent properties of organic lanthanide complexes are reviewed. Stress is put on the progress in the development of organic europium complexes and their nanoparticles with excellent visible-light-sensitized and two-photon-sensitized Eu^III luminescence properties. These are of increasing importance because bioanalysis or bioimaging techniques based on such labeled materials will combine the advantages of high sensitivity, high signal-to-noise ratio, deep penetration, and low photodamage to biological samples. In addition, the application of long-wavelength-sensitized luminescence of organic lanthanide complexes and their nanoparticles in bioimaging is discussed.     

In-vitro cytotoxicity evaluation of surface design luminescent lanthanide core/shell nanocrystals

Lanthanide nanocrystals (NCs) are the most promising luminescent materials for bioapplications, but their use is hindered by difficulties in obtaining biocompatible and photoluminescence lanthanide NCs. To solve this problem, a simple and versatile strategy was developed for improving the luminescence efficiency with the hydrophilicity of the lanthanide NCs. In this study, the effects of shell formation on structural, morphological, and optical properties (optical absorption, band-gap energy, excitation, emission, and luminescent decay time) were evaluated. To improve the luminescence efficiency and aqueous dispersion, luminescent core-NCs were encapsulated with inert NaGdF₄ and amorphous silica layers. These surface coating layers significantly improved the luminescence efficiency and dispersion of the core/shell NCs in which the silica surface provides a negatively charged surface to the NCs at physiological pH. Optical properties of these NCs strongly depend on the external change of NCs, demonstrating the impact of coating in improving the luminescence efficiency. The outcomes can be ascribed to the development of surface chemical bonds between core/shell and noncrystalline SiO₂ shell via GdOSi bridges, activating the ‘dormant’ Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions on the surface of NCs. An intensive emission and good hydrophilic property from the active functional groups in solutions show a great potential for applications such as multi-analyte fluorescent biolabeling, optical biosensing, staining, display, and other optical technologies. The core/shell/SiO₂ NCs showed higher nontoxicity and biocompatibility with respect to the core NCs because of biocompatible silica surface modification, facilitating entry into the living cells. Therefore, this developed synthesis approach might advance the field of biomolecule-based nanotechnology in near future.     

Surface Modification and Functionalization of Microporous Hybrid Material for Luminescence Sensing

We report here on the preparation of novel luminescent core‐shell material by initial coating with polyelectrolytes and subsequent with a silica shell on the lanthanide complexes loaded zeolite L microcrystals. Lanthanide complexes loaded zeolite L was prepared by insertion of 2‐thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) into the nanochannels of zeolite crystals by gas diffusion of TTA to Eu³⁺ exchanged zeolite L, coating a silica shell on the lanthanide complexes loaded zeolite L resulted to the novel luminescent core‐shell material. The luminescent core‐shell material was further functionalized with silylated terbium(III) complex and the obtained material was used as the luminescence sensing of dipicolinic acid (DPA), which is a major constituent of many pathogenic spore‐forming bacteria.     

Synthesis of polypyridyl ruthenium complexes with 2-(1-aryl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthroline ligand and its application for luminescent oxygen sensing

Polypyridyl ruthenium (Ru) complexes 1–3 were prepared. Their photophysical properties were investigated by UV-Vis absorption and luminescence emission spectra. The luminescent lifetimes of these Ruthenium complex were prolonged by more than 5 folds (τ = 2.50 μs for complex 3) when compared with the parent Ru complex 1 (τ = 0.45 μs). We propose that the extended luminescent lifetime of complex 3 is due to the equilibrium between ³MLCT state and the pyrene localized ³π-π* triplet state (³IL). The luminescent O₂-sensing property of the complexes in solution and the IMPEK-C polymer film were studied, and the O₂ sensing was quantified with the two-site model. The oxygen-sensing property of the Ru complexes can be improved by 104-fold with extension of the luminescent lifetimes. For example, the quenching constant K _SV was improved from 0.0023 Torr⁻¹ of 1 to 0.2393 Torr⁻¹ for 3. Our results demonstrated a versatile approach for the preparation of Ru (II) polypyridine complexes with extended luminescent lifetimes as functional materials, for example, for luminescent oxygen-sensing applications.     

Ytterbium(III) Porpholactones: β‐Lactonization of Porphyrin Ligands Enhances Sensitization Efficiency of Lanthanide Near‐Infrared Luminescence

The near‐infrared (NIR) luminescence efficiency of lanthanide complexes is largely dependent on the electronic and photophysical properties of antenna ligands. Although porphyrin ligands are efficient sensitizers of lanthanide NIR luminescence, non‐pyrrolic porphyrin analogues, which have unusual symmetry and electronic states, have been much less studied. In this work, we used porpholactones, a class of β‐pyrrolic‐modified porphyrins, as ligands and investigated the photophysical properties of lanthanide porpholactones Yb‐1 a – 5 a . Compared with Yb porphyrin complexes, the porpholactone complexes displayed remarkable enhancement of NIR emission (50–120 %). Estimating the triplet‐state levels of porphyrin and porpholactone in Gd complexes revealed that β‐lactonization of porphyrinic ligands lowers the ligand T₁ state and results in a narrow energy gap between this state and the lowest excited state of Yb³⁺. Transient absorption spectra showed that Yb^III porpholactone has a longer transient decay lifetime at the Soret band than the porphyrin analogue (30.8 versus 17.0 μs). Thus, the narrower energy gap and longer lifetime arising from β‐lactonization are assumed to enhance NIR emission of Yb porpholactones. To demonstrate the potential applications of Yb porpholactone, a water‐soluble Yb bioprobe was constructed by conjugating glucose to Yb ‐ 1 a . Interestingly, the NIR emission of this Yb porpholactone could be specifically switched on in the presence of glucose oxidase and then switched off by addition of glucose. This is the first demonstration that non‐pyrrolic porphyrin ligands enhance the sensitization efficiency of lanthanide luminescence and also display switchable NIR emission in the region of biological analytes (800–1400 nm).     

Remarkable Tuning of the Coordination and Photophysical Properties of Lanthanide Ions in a Series of Tetrazole‐Based Complexes

A series of seven new tetrazole‐based ligands (L1, L3–L8) containing terpyridine or bipyridine chromophores suited to the formation of luminescent complexes of lanthanides have been synthesized. All ligands were prepared from the respective carbonitriles by thermal cycloaddition of sodium azide. The crystal structures of the homoleptic terpyridine–tetrazolate complexes [Ln(Li)₂]NHEt₃ (Ln=Nd, Eu, Tb for i=1, 2; Ln=Eu for i=3, 4) and of the monoaquo bypyridine–tetrazolate complex [Eu(H₂O)(L7)₂]NHEt₃ were determined. The tetradentate bipyridine–tetrazolate ligand forms nonhelical complexes that can contain a water molecule coordinated to the metal. Conversely, the pentadentate terpyridine–tetrazolate ligands wrap around the metal, thereby preventing solvent coordination and forming chiral double‐helical complexes similarly to the analogue terpyridine–carboxylate. Proton NMR spectroscopy studies show that the solid‐state structures of these complexes are retained in solution and indicate the kinetic stability of the hydrophobic complexes of terpyridine–tetrazolates. UV spectroscopy results suggest that terpyridine–tetrazolate complexes have a similar stability to their carboxylate analogues, which is sufficient for their isolation in aerobic conditions. The replacement of the carboxylate group with tetrazolate extends the absorption window of the corresponding terpyridine‐ (≈20 nm) and bipyridine‐based (25 nm) complexes towards the visible region (up to 440 nm). Moreover, the substitution of the terpyridine–tetrazolate system with different groups in the ligand series L3–L6 has a very important effect on both absorption spectra and luminescence efficiency of their lanthanide complexes. The tetrazole‐based ligands L1 and L3–L8 sensitize efficiently the luminescent emission of lanthanide ions in the visible and near‐IR regions with quantum yields ranging from 5 to 53 % for Eu^III complexes, 6 to 35 % for Tb^III complexes, and 0.1 to 0.3 % for Nd^III complexes, which is among the highest reported for a neodymium complex. The luminescence efficiency could be related to the energy of the ligand triplet states, which are strongly correlated to the ligand structures.     

Preparation and Characterization of Novel Luminescent Sol-Gel Films Containing a RE3+ Carboxylic Acid Complex

RE³⁺ (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺) complexes with carboxylic acid (salicylic acid and benzoic acid) were introduced into the sol, which was prepared by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). A sol-gel luminescent thin film (SG-LTF) was then prepared by dispersing the sol onto a silica substrate by a spin coating method. Multi-layer luminescent thin films were prepared by repeating the same process. The luminescent spectra, fluorescence lifetime and thermal stability of the SG-LTFs were investigated. For the reason of comparison polyvinylbutyral (PVB) was added into a N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution in which the comparative RE³⁺ carboxylic acid complexes were previously dissolved to form the DMF/PVB solution and the PVB luminescent thin film (PVB-LTF) was prepared. The results show that a broad excitation band indicates the formation of RE complexes in the solid SG-LTFs. RE ions, which are restrained in the silica matrix, present longer lifetimes and higher thermal stability than that in the PVB-LTF containing the corresponding pure complexes. The different doping concentration of RE (III) complexes in the SG-LTFs and the different change of the emission intensities with the heat treatment temperature in the sol-gel thin film and the sol-gel bulk gel were also discussed in this paper.     

Lanthanide(III)‐Based Multicolor Luminescent Hybrid Gel for Amine Sensing

Bridged polysilsesquioxanes (BPs) show great potential in the development of lanthanide‐based luminescent materials, owing to their capacity to loading lanthanide complexes with high concentration and their flexible processability. A novel BP precursor, consisting of a C ₃‐symmetrical benzene central core moiety, capable of sensitizing the luminescence of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ is reported. Tunable, full‐color luminescent gels were facilely prepared by mixing the as‐synthesized precursor and Ln³⁺ ions in appropriate solvents. By either changing the Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ molar ratio or altering the excitation wavelength, the emission colors of the final gels can be finely tuned. Additionally, the yellow‐colored emissive gel with a molar ratio of Eu³⁺ to Tb³⁺ of 0.5 can be used as an effective ratiometric luminescent sensor for distinguishing amines with lower pK _a (<5) from those with higher pK _a (>9).     

Establishing the Structural Integrity of Core–Shell Nanoparticles against Elemental Migration using Luminescent Lanthanide Probes

Core–shell structured nanoparticles are increasingly used to host luminescent lanthanide ions but the structural integrity of these nanoparticles still lacks sufficient understanding. Herein, we present a new approach to detect the diffusion of dopant ions in core–shell nanostructures using luminescent lanthanide probes whose emission profile and luminescence lifetime are sensitive to the chemical environment. We show that dopant ions in solution‐synthesized core–shell nanoparticles are firmly confined in the designed locations. However, annealing at certain temperatures (greater than circa 350 °C) promotes diffusion of the dopant ions and leads to degradation of the integrity of the nanoparticles. These insights into core–shell nanostructures should enhance our ability to understand and use lanthanide‐doped luminescent nanoparticles.     

The Series of Rare Earth Complexes [Ln2Cl6(μ‐4,4′‐bipy)(py)6], Ln=Y,Pr, Nd,Sm‐Yb: A Molecular Model System for Luminescence Properties in MOFs Based on LnCl3 and 4,4′‐Bipyridine

A series of 12 dinuclear complexes [Ln₂Cl₆(μ‐4,4′‐bipy)(py)₆], Ln=Y, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, ( 1 – 12 , respectively) was synthesized by an anhydrous solvothermal reaction in pyridine. The complexes contain a 4,4′‐bipyridine bridge and exhibit a coordination sphere closely related to luminescent lanthanide MOFs based on LnCl₃ and 4,4‐bipyridine. The dinuclear complexes therefore function as a molecular model system to provide a better understanding of the luminescence mechanisms in the Ln‐N‐MOFs ${\hbox{}{{\hfill 2\atop \hfill \infty }}}$ [Ln₂Cl₆(4,4′‐bipy)₃] ? 2(4,4′‐bipy). Accordingly, the luminescence properties of the complexes with Ln=Y, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, ( 1 , 4 – 8 ) were determined, showing an antenna effect through a ligand–metal energy transfer. The highest efficiency of luminescence is observed for the terbium‐based compound 7 displaying a high quantum yield (QY of 86 %). Excitation with UV light reveals typical emission colors of lanthanide‐dependent intra 4f–4f‐transition emissions in the visible range (Tb^III: green, Eu^III: red, Sm^III: salmon red, Dy^III: yellow). For the Gd^III‐ and Y^III‐containing compounds 6 and 1 , blue emission based on triplet phosphorescence is observed. Furthermore, ligand‐to‐metal charge‐transfer (LMCT) states, based on the interaction of Cl^? with Eu^III, were observed for the Eu^III compound 5 including energy‐transfer processes to the Eu^III ion. Altogether, the model complexes give further insights into the luminescence of the related MOFs, for example, rationalization of Ln‐independent quantum yields in the related MOFs.     

A pyrophosphate-responsive gadolinium(III) MRI contrast agent

This study shows that the relaxivity and optical properties of functionalised lanthanide‐DTPA‐bis‐amide complexes (lanthanide=Gd³⁺ and Eu³⁺, DTPA=diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) can be successfully modulated by addition of specific anions, without direct Ln³⁺/anion coordination. Zinc(II)‐dipicolylamine moieties, which are known to bind strongly to phosphates, were introduced in the amide “arms” of these ligands, and the interaction of the resulting Gd–Zn₂ complexes with a range of anions was screened by using indicator displacement assays (IDAs). Considerable selectivity for polyphosphorylated species (such as pyrophosphate and adenosine‐5′‐triphosphate (ATP)) over a range of other anions (including monophosphorylated anions) was apparent. In addition, we show that pyrophosphate modulates the relaxivity of the gadolinium(III) complex, this modulation being sufficiently large to be observed in imaging experiments. To establish the binding mode of the pyrophosphate and gain insight into the origin of the relaxometric modulation, a series of studies including UV/Vis and emission spectroscopy, luminescence lifetime measurements in H₂O and D₂O, ¹⁷O and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance dispersion (NMRD) studies were carried out.     

Absorption Spectra and Luminescence Properties of Isomeric Platinum (II) and Palladium (II) Complexes containing 1,1′-biphenyldiyl, 2-phenylpyridine,and 2,2′-bijpyridine as ligands

The absorption spectra, luminescence spectra, and luminescence lifetimes of the isomeric [M(bph)(bpy)] and [M(phpy)₂] complexes M = Pt(II) or Pd(II), bph^2? = 1,1′-biphenyl-2,2′-diyl dianion, phpy^? = 2-phenylpyridine-2′-yl anion, and bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine have been investigated and compared with those of [M(bpy)₂]²⁺ complexes and of the free protonated ligands H₂bph, Hbpy⁺, and Hphpy. In the absorption spectra, the region below 320 mm is dominated by ligand-centered (LC) transitions, whereas metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions are responsible for the bands present in the near UV/VIS region. The MLCT bands move to higher energies on replacing Pt with Pd and in going from [M(bph)(bpy)] to the [M(phpy)₂] isomer. For the mixed-ligand complexes, evidence for both M → bph^2? (at higher energies) and M → bpy bands is found. The structured luminescence observed at 77 K shows lifetimes of 4.0 and 1.1 μs for [Pt(phpy)₂] and [Pt(bph)(bpy)], respectively, and 480 and 250 μs for the analogous Pd complexes. On the basis of the energy and lifetime data, the luminescence of the Pt(II) complexes is assigned to the lowest triplet MLCT excited state, whereas for the Pd complexes the luminescent state is thought to result from a mixture of MLCT and LC triplet levels.