Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure, and electrochemical, photophysical, and protein-binding properties of luminescent rhenium(I) diimine indole complexes

We report the synthesis, characterization, and photophysical and electrochemical properties of a series of luminescent rhenium(I) diimine indole complexes, [Re(N-N)(CO)3(L)](CF3SO3) (N-N = 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Me4-phen), L = N-(3-pyridoyl)tryptamine (py-3-CONHC2H4-indole) (1a), N-[N-(3-pyridoyl)-6-aminohexanoyl]tryptamine, (py-3-CONHC5H10CONHC2H4-indole) (1b); N-N = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), L = py-3-CONHC2H4-indole (2a), py-3-CONHC5H10CONHC2H4-indole (2b); N-N = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Me2-phen), L = py-3-CONHC2H4-indole (3a), py-3-CONHC5H10CONHC2H4-indole (3b); N-N = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Ph2-phen), L = py-3-CONHC2H4-indole (4a), py-3-CONHC5H10CONHC2H4-indole (4b)), and their indole-free counterparts, [Re(N-N)(CO)3(py-3-CONH-Et)](CF3SO3) (py-3-CONH-Et = N-ethyl-(3-pyridyl)formamide; N-N = Me4-phen (1c), phen (2c), Me2-phen (3c), Ph2-phen (4c)). The X-ray crystal structure of complex 3a has also been investigated. Upon irradiation, most of the complexes exhibited triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (3MLCT) (d pi(Re) --> pi*(diimine)) emission in fluid solutions at 298 K and in low-temperature glass. However, the structural features and long emission lifetimes of the Me4-phen complexes in solutions at room temperature suggest that the excited state of these complexes exhibited substantial triplet intraligand (3IL) (pi --> pi*) (Me4-phen) character. The binding interactions of these complexes to indole-binding proteins including bovine serum albumin and tryptophanase have been examined.     

Synthesis, characterization and photophysical study of a series of neutral isocyano rhodium(I) complexes with pyridylindolide ligands

Pyridylindole ligand and its chloro substituted derivatives have been synthesized and incorporated into the square planar bis(phenylisocyano) rhodium(I) complexes to give a series of neutral rhodium(I) complexes with general formula of [Rh(X-pyind)(CNR)₂] (R = 2,6-(CH₃)₂-4-BrC₆H₂, 2,4-Cl₂-6-(CH₃O)C₆H₂, 2,4,6-Br₃C₆H₂, 2,4,6-Cl₃C₆H₂; L = 2-(2′-pyridyl)indole, 5-chloro-2-(2′-pyridyl)indole, 4,6-dichloro-2-(2′-pyridyl)indole). The structures of two complex precursors [Rh(cod)(Cl-pyind)] and [Rh(cod)(Cl₂pyind)], and the target complex [Rh(pyind)(CNC₆H₂-2,4-Cl₂-6-(OCH₃))₂] were determined by X-ray crystallography. The UV-vis absorption properties of these complexes and their responses towards the change of temperature were also investigated.     

Synthesis,characterization, electrochemical and photophysical properties of bimetallic complexes of rhenium(I) and osmium(II)

Monometallic and bimetallic diimine complexes of rhenium(I) and osmium(II), [(CO)₃(bpy)Re(4,4′-bpy)](PF₆) I, [(CO)₃(bpy)Re(4,4′-bpy)Re(bpy)(CO)₃](PF₆)₂II, [Cl(bpy)₂Os(4,4′-bpy)](PF₆) III and [Cl(bpy)₂Os(4,4′-bpy)Os(bpy)₂Cl](PF₆)₂IV, and a new heterobimetallic complex of rhenium(I) and osmium(II) [(CO)₃(bpy)Re(4,4′-bpy)Os(bpy)Cl](PF₆)₂V (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; 4,4′-bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized by various spectral techniques. The photophysical properties of all the complexes have been studied and a comparison is made between the heterobimetallic and corresponding monometallic and homobimetallic complexes. Emission and transient absorption spectral studies reveal that excited state energy transfer from the rhenium(I) chromophore (∗Re) to osmium(II) takes place. The energy transfer rate constant is found to be 8.7 × 10⁷ s⁻¹.     

Synthesis, structural, and photophysical investigation of diimine triscarbonyl Re(I) tetrazolato complexes

The synthesis, structural, and photophysical properties of a novel family of neutral fac-[Re(N(∧)N)(CO)(3)(L)] complexes, where N(∧)N is either 2,2'-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline and L is a para functionalized 5-aryltetrazolate [namely, 5-phenyltetrazolate (Tph(-)), 4-(tetrazolate-5-yl)benzaldehyde (Tbdz(-)), 5-(4-acetylphenyl)tetrazolate (Tacy(-)), and methyl 4-(tetrazolate-5-yl)benzoate (Tmeb(-))] are reported. The complexes were prepared by direct addition of the corresponding tetrazolate anion to the acetonitrile solvated fac-[Re(N(∧)N)(CO)(3)](+) precursor. NMR data demonstrate that the coordination of the metal fragment is regiospecific at the N2 atom of the tetrazolate ring. These conclusions are also supported by X-ray structural determinations. Photophysical data were obtained in diluted and deaerated dichloromethane solutions displaying broad and structureless profiles with emission maxima ranging from 566 to 578 nm. The absorption profiles indicate the presence of higher energy intraligand (IL) π-π* transitions and lower energies ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LLCT) and metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT). As the last two transitions are mixed, they are better described as a metal-ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (MLLCT), a result that is also supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The complexes show excited state lifetime values ranging from 102 to 955 ns, with associated quantum yield between 0.012 and 0.099. Compared to the parent neutral chloro or bromo [Re(N(∧)N)(CO)(3)X], the complexes show a slightly improved performance because of the π accepting nature of the tetrazolato ligand. The metal-to-ligand backbonding is in fact depleting the Re center of electron density, thus widening the HOMO-LUMO gap and reducing the non-radiative decay mechanism in accordance with the energy gap law. Finally, the electron-withdrawing or donating nature of the substituent on the phenyltetrazolato ligand allows the fine-tuning of the photophysical properties.     

Synthesis, characterization, photophysical, and computational studies of rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes containing the derivatives of bipyrazine

The chloro and pyridinate derivatives of rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes containing the diimine ligands 2,2'-bipyrazine (bpz) and 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyrazine (Me2bpz) are reported. Absorption maxima occur in the visible and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum; emission is structureless at room temperature and at 77 K; the infrared spectrum consists of three carbonyl stretches; electrochemically, a reversible reduction, an irreversible reduction, and an irreversible oxidation take place. Some ring protons are shielded and others deshielded in the presence of the methyl substituents attached to the bpz ring. DFT and TDDFT calculations provide insight into interpreting electronic and vibrational properties of the complexes. When compared to similar rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes of 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and 2,2'-bipyrimidine (bpm), the Me2bpz complexes are comparable to bpm derivatives and their properties are intermediate between those of bpy and bpz complexes.     

Photochemical synthesis of intensely luminescent isocyano rhenium(I) complexes with readily tunable structural features

A new class of readily tunable isocyano rhenium(I) diimine luminophores, cis,cis-[Re(CO)(2)(CNR)(2)(N-N)](+) (R=2,4,6-Cl(3)C(6)H(2), 4-ClC(6)H(4), 4-Br-2,6-(CH(3))(2)C(6)H(2), 2,6-(CH(3))(2)C(6)H(3), 4-[(CH(3))(2)N]C(6)H(4), 4-(C(6)H(5))C(6)H(4), 4-nBuC(6)H(4), tBu), has been synthesized in high yield by a highly selective photochemical substitution reaction. These complexes were characterized by (1)H NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The X-ray crystal structures of one of the complexes and one of the precursor complexes for the photosubstitution reaction were also determined. As the isocyanide ligands are readily tunable, complexes with excellent solubility in benzene or other nonpolar solvents could be designed through slight modification of the isocyanide ligands with a short nBu substituent. With the characteristic strong infrared absorptions of the carbonyl (C≡O) and isocyanide (C≡N) stretches as well as the high solubility of the reactant and product in benzene, which is the solvent for the photoreaction, the photosubstitution reaction of [Re(CO)(3)(nBuC(6)H(4)NC)(2)Br] with 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine was also studied by in situ IR spectroscopy. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of these complexes were also investigated. Except for the complex with [(CH(3))(2)N]C(6)H(4)NC ligands, all complexes displayed intense luminescence with quantum yields of up to 0.37 in degassed CH(2)Cl(2) solution at room temperature. These emissions were assigned as the phosphorescence derived from the metal-to-ligand charge transfer [dπ(Re)→π*(N-N)] excited state. The emissive excited states of these complexes have also been characterized by transient absorption spectroscopic studies. The capability of tuning the emissive excited-state energy through the modification of the isocyanide ligands could be reflected by the significant shifting of the phosphorescence from 530 to 620 nm with the same phenanthroline ligand.     

Synthesis,structural characterization,and photophysical studies of hexanuclear gold(I) chalcogenido complexes

A hexanuclear gold(I) selenido cluster and its sulfido counterpart, [Au₆{μ‐Ph₂PN(CH₂‐o‐Py)PPh₂}₃(μ₃‐E)₂](ClO₄)₂ (E = S, Se), with bridging bis(diphenylphosphino)amine ligands were synthesized and characterized. The X‐ray crystal structure of the selenido cluster was determined, with the gold core possessing a distorted heterocubane structure. Intramolecular aurophilic interactions with short Au(I)?Au(I) contacts of around 3.09–3.13 Å were observed. The complexes were found to emit strongly in the solid state with orange to red emission colors. Their electronic absorption and emission properties were also investigated.     

Syntheses, structural characterization and photophysical properties of 4-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,3-triazole rhenium(I) complexes

Novel chelators, i.e., 4-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,3-triazole derivatives, were synthesized by means of Cu(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and used to prepare luminescent Re(I) complexes [ReCl(CO)(3)(Bn-pyta)], [ReCl(CO)(3)(AcGlc-pyta)] and [ReCl(CO)(3)(Glc-pyta)] (Bn-pyta = 1-benzyl-4-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,3-triazole, AcGlc-pyta = 2-(4-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)ethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside, Glc-pyta = 2-(4-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)ethyl beta-d-glucopyranoside). X-Ray crystallography of Bn-pyta and Glc-pyta indicated an azocompound-like structure while the 1,2,4-triazole isomer has an azine character. [ReCl(CO)(3)(Bn-pyta)] crystallized in the monoclinic system with space group P2(1)/n. Bn-pyta ligand coordinates with the nitrogen atoms of the 2-pyridyl group and the 3-position of 1,2,3-triazole ring, which is a very similar coordinating fashion to that of the 2,2'-bipyridine derivative. The glucoconjugated Re(I) complexes [ReCl(CO)(3)(AcGlc-pyta)] and [ReCl(CO)(3)(Glc-pyta)] hardly crystallized, and were analyzed by applying extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis. The EXAFS analyses suggested that the glucoconjugation at the 1-position of the 1,2,3-triazole makes no influence to the coordinating fashion of 4-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,3-triazole. [ReCl(CO)(3)(Bn-pyta)] showed a blue-shifted maximum absorption (333 nm, 3.97 x 10(3) M(-1) cm(-1)) compared with [ReCl(CO)(3)(bpy)] (371 nm, 3.35 x 10(3) M(-1) cm(-1)). These absorptions were clearly assigned to be the mixed metal-ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (MLLCT) on the basis of time-dependent density functional theory calculation. The luminescence spectrum of [ReCl(CO)(3)(Bn-pyta)] also showed this blue-shifted feature when compared with that of [ReCl(CO)(3)(bpy)]. The luminescence lifetime of [ReCl(CO)(3)(Bn-pyta)] was determined to be 8.90 mus in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran at 77 K, which is longer than that of [ReCl(CO)(3)(bpy)] (3.17 micros). The blue-shifted electronic absorption and elongated luminescence lifetime of [ReCl(CO)(3)(Bn-pyta)] suggested that 4-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,3-triazole functions as an electron-rich bidentate chelator.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and electrophosphorescent properties of rhenium(I) complexes containing carrier-transporting groups

Two novel diimine rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes with the formula [Re(CO)(3)(L)Br], where L = 1-(4-5'-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolylbenzyl)-2-pyridinylbenzoimidazole (1) and 1-(4-carbazolylbutyl)-2-pyridinylbenzoimidazole (2), have been successfully synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, (1)H NMR, and IR spectra. Their electrochemical, photophysical, and electroluminescent behaviors, along with the X-ray crystal structure analysis of 2, are also described. White electrophosphorescent devices were fabricated using 1 and 2 as emitters. The devices based on carbazole-containing (hole-transporting group) 2 with the structure ITO/m-MTDATA (30 nm)/NPB (20 nm)/2:CBP (8%, 30 nm)/Bphen (20 nm)/Alq(3) (20 nm)/LiF (0.8 nm)/Al (200 nm) exhibit Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage coordinates of x = 0.34, y = 0.33 with a maximum brightness of 2300 cd/m(2) at 580 mA/cm(2). When a brightness of 1500 cd/m(2) appears at 230 mA/cm(2), the devices based on 10 wt % 2 still possess 56% of the maximum efficiency which appeared at 2.7 mA/cm(2). These performances are among the best reported for devices using Re(I) complexes as emitters. By comparison of the electroluminescent properties of the devices based on 1 and 2, we conclude that the introduction of the carbazole group into the ligand improves the performance of 1-doped devices.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, photophysical properties and theoretical analysis of gold(I) thiolate-phosphine complexes

A series of luminescent dinuclear neutral complexes of stoichiometry [(AuSPh)(2)(PPh(2)-(C(6)H(4))(n)-PPh(2))] (n = 1, 2, 3) as well as their tetranuclear cationic derivatives [(Au(2)SPh)(2)(PPh(2)-(C(6)H(4))(n)-PPh(2))(2)](PF(6))(2) are reported. Their crystal structures have been elucidated by X-ray studies. These studies indicate that, for the dinuclear species, only when n = 1 the molecules exhibit intermolecular aurophilic interactions. None of the tetranuclear species crystallizes in their molecular form, due to the formation of aggregates through Au···Au interactions. The origin of the luminescence has been analyzed by computational studies indicating that the presence or absence of aurophilic interactions does not affect the luminescent behavior and that intraligand charge transfer processes which involve the thiolate and the diphosphine are responsible for the emissions. The result is in contrast with the thiolate-gold charge transfer processes which dominate the photophysics of gold-thiolate compounds and reveals the influence of the phenylene spacers in the emissive behavior of these compounds.     

Photoswitching tetranuclear rhenium(I) tricarbonyl diimine complexes with a stilbene-like bridging ligand

Highly efficient photoswitching tetranuclear rhenium(I) tricarbonyl diimine complexes with a stilbene-like bridging ligand are reported. The ability to directly populate excited states localized on the bridging ligand is the key for the observed efficient photoisomerization.     

Synthesis, characterization and photophysics of alkyne bridged bimetallic rhenium(I) and ruthenium(II) complexes

Six new homobimetallic and heterobimetallic complexes of rhenium(I) and ruthenium(II) bridged by ethynylene spacer [(CO)₃(bpy)Re(BL)Re(bpy)(CO)₃]²⁺ [Cl(bpy)₂Ru(BL)Ru(bpy)₂Cl]²⁺ and [(CO)₃(bpy)Re(BL)Ru(bpy)₂Cl]²⁺ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, BL = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)acetylene (bpa) and 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)butadiyne (bpb) are synthesized and characterized. The electrochemical and photophysical properties of all the complexes show a weak interaction between two metal centers in heterobimetallic complexes. The excited state lifetime of the complexes is increased upon introduction of ethynylene spacer and the transient spectra show that this is due to delocalization of electron in the bridging ligand. Also, intramolecular energy transfer from *Re(I) to Ru(II) in Re–Ru heterobimetallic complexes occurs with a rate constant 4 × 10⁷ s⁻¹.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel rhenium(I) complexes towards potential biological imaging applications

Background

Re(I) tricarbonyl complexes exhibit immense potential as fluorescence imaging agents. However, only a handful of rhenium complexes have been utilized in biological imaging. The present study describes the synthesis of four novel rhenium complexes, their characterization and preliminary biological studies to assess their potential as biological imaging agents.

Results

Four facial rhenium tricarbonyl complexes containing a pyridyl triazine core, (L1 = 5,5′(3-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazine-5,6-diyl)-bis-2-furansulfonic acid disodium salt and L2 = (3-(2- pyridyl)-5,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazine-4′,4′′-disulfonic acid sodium salt) have been synthesized by utililzing two different Re metal precursors, Re(CO)₅Br and [Re(CO)₃(H₂O)₃]OTf in an organic solvent mixture and water, respectively. The rhenium complexes [Re(CO)₃(H₂O)L1]⁺ (1), Re(CO)₃L1Br (2), [Re(CO)₃(H₂O)L2]⁺ (3), and Re(CO)₃L2Br (4), were obtained in 70–85% yield and characterized by ¹H NMR, IR, UV, and luminescence spectroscopy. In both H₂O and acetonitrile, complexes display a weak absorption band in the visible region which can be assigned to a metal to ligand charge transfer excitation and fluorescent emission lying in the 650–710 nm range. Cytotoxicity assays of complexes 1, 3, and 4 were carried out for rat peritoneal cells. Both plant cells (Allium cepa bulb cells) and rat peritoneal cells were stained using the maximum non-toxic concentration levels of the compounds, 20.00 mg ml^?1 for 1 and 3 and 5.00 mg ml^?1 for 4 to observe under the epifluorescence microscope. In both cell lines, compound concentrated specifically in the nuclei region. Hence, nuclei showed red fluorescence upon excitation at 550 nm.

Conclusions

Four novel rhenium complexes have been synthesized and characterized. Remarkable enhancement of fluorescence upon binding with cells and visible range excitability demonstrates the possibility of using the new complexes in biological applications.

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Graphical abstract Micrograph of rat peritoneal cells incubated with novel rhenium complex under epifluorescence microscope.

     

Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes

Reaction of aminophosphinimine [RHN(CH(2))(2)N[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh(3)] (R = H, Et) with Re(2)(CO)(10) provided the NH-functionalized carbene rhenium complex [Re(2)(CNHCH(2)CH(2)NR)(CO)(9)] (3a, R = H, 3b, R = Et). Treatment of 3 with Br(2) provided the mono nuclear [Re(CNHCH(2)CH(2)NR)(CO)(4)Br] (1, R = H, 2, R = Et). However, NH-functionalized carbene complexes 1-3 did not undergo N-alkylation with alkyl halides to yield the N-substituted NHC complexes. The direct ligand substitution of [Re(CO)(5)Br] with a carbene donor was employed to prepare [Re(IMes(2))(CO)(4)Br] (6a, IMes(2) = 1,3-di-mesitylimidazol-2-ylidene; 6b, IMes(2) = 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene). Analyses of spectroscopic and crystal data of 6a and 6b show similar corresponding data among these complexes, suggesting the saturated and unsaturated NHCs have similar bonding with Re(I) metal centers. Reduction of 6a and 6b with LiEt(3)BH yielded the corresponding hydrido complexes 7a-b [ReH(CO)(4)(IMes(2))], but not 1 and 2. Ligand substitution of 1, 6a and 6b toward 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) was investigated. Crystal structures of 1, 3a-b, 6a-b and 7b were determined for characterization and comparison.     

Trinuclear copper(I) acetylide complexes bearing carbonyl moiety: Synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties

A series of trinuclear copper(I) acetylide complexes with carbonyl moiety, [Cu₃(μ-dppm)₃(μ₃-η¹-CCC(O)R)₂](ClO₄) (R = H (1), CH₃ (2), OCH₃ (3), NH₂ (4), NEt₂ (5)) (dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane), have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures of [Cu₃(μ-dppm)₃(μ₃-η¹-CCC(O)CH₃)₂](ClO₄) (2) and [Cu₃(μ-dppm)₃(μ₃-η¹-CCC(O)NH₂)₂](ClO₄) (4) were determined by X-ray diffraction. The photophysical properties of complexes 1−5 have been studied. Complexes 1−5 show luminescence both in the solid state and in acetonitrile solution at 298 K, and their emission energies are in the order: 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 1. Density function theory (DFT) calculations at the hybrid Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof functional (PBE1PBE) level were performed on model complex 1 to elucidate the emission origin of complexes 1−5.     

Luminescent rhenium(I) diimine indole conjugates--photophysical, electrochemical and protein-binding properties

Two novel luminescent rhenium(I) diimine indole complexes have been designed and their properties studied; these conjugates can be recognised by indole-binding proteins including bovine serum albumin, lysozyme and tryptophanase.     

Synthesis, electrochemistry and structural characterization of luminescent rhenium(I) monoynyl complexes and their homo- and hetero-metallic binuclear complexes

A series of luminescent rhenium(I) monoynyl complexes, [Re(N---N)(CO)₃(CC---R)] (N---N=bpy, ^tBu₂bpy; R=C₆H₅, C₆H₄---Cl-4, C₆H₄---OCH₃-4, C₆H₄---C₈H₁₇-4, C₆H₄---C₆H₅, C₈H₁₇, C₄H₃S, C₄H₂S---C₄H₃S, C₅H₄N), together with their homo- and hetero-metallic binuclear complexes, {Re(N---N)(CO)₃(CC---C₅H₄N)[M]} (N---N=bpy, ^tBu₂bpy; [M]=[Re{(CF₃)₂-bpy}(CO)₃]ClO₄, [Re(NO₂-phen)(CO)₃]ClO₄, W(CO)₅) have been synthesized and their electrochemical and photoluminescence behaviors determined. The structural characterization and electronic structures of selected complexes have also been studied. The luminescence origin of the rhenium(I) alkynyl complexes has been assigned as derived states of a [dπ(Re)→π*(N---N)] metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) origin mixed with a [π(CCR)→π*(N---N)] ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LLCT) character. The assignments are further supported by extended Hückel molecular orbital (EHMO) calculations, which show that the LUMO mainly consists of π*(N---N) character while the HOMO is dominated by the antibonding character of the Re---CCR moiety resulted from the overlap of the dπ(Re) and π(CCR) orbitals.     

Synthesis and characterization of new macrocyclic diimine complexes of nickel(II)

Summary The reaction of 3,4-thiophenedicarboxaldehyde and 1,3-diaminopropane in EtOH gives a tetraazamacrocylic ligand (L). Two Ni^II complexes of L were prepared by a simple addition reaction, while other macrocyclic Ni^II complexes were prepared by metal-controlled condensation reactions between 3,4-thiophenedicarboxaldehyde and aliphatic diamines. On the basis of various physical properties, the complexes can be described as six co-ordinate pseudo-octahedral structures. Simple reactions led to the isolation of isothiocyanate and percholorate derivatives.     

A new class of luminescent tricarbonyl rhenium(I) complexes containing bridging 1,2-diazine ligands: electrochemical, photophysical, and computational characterization

A novel class of luminescent tricarbonyl rhenium(I) complexes of general formula [Re2(mu-X)2(CO)6(mu-diaz)] (X=halogen and diaz=1,2-diazine) was prepared by reacting [ReX(CO)5] with 0.5 equiv of diazine (seven different ligands were used). The bridging coordination of the diazine in these dinuclear complexes was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Cyclic voltammetry in acetonitrile showed for all the complexes (but the phthalazine derivative) a chemically and electrochemically reversible ligand-centered reduction, as well as a reversible metal-centered bielectronic oxidation. With respect to the prototypical luminescent [ReCl(CO)3(bpy)] complex, the oxidation is more difficult and the reduction easier (about +0.3 V), so that a similar highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap is observed. All of the complexes exhibit photoluminescence at room temperature in solution, with broad unstructured emission from metal-to-ligand charge-transfer states, at lambda in the range 579-620 nm. Lifetimes (tau=20-2200 ns) and quantum yields (Phi up to 0.12) dramatically change upon varying the bridging ligand X and the diazine substituents: in particular, quantum yields decrease in the series Cl, Br, and I and in the presence of substituents at the alpha positions of the pyridazine ring. A combined density functional and time-dependent density functional study of the geometry, relative stability, electronic structure, and photophysical properties of all the pyridazine derivatives was performed. The nature of the excited states involved in the electronic absorption spectra was ascertained, and trends in the energy of the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals upon changing the pyridazine substituents and the bridging halogen ligands were discussed. The observed emission properties of these complexes were shown to be related to a combination of steric and electronic factors affecting their ground-state geometry and their stability.