Exploring Excited‐State Tunability in Luminescent Tris‐cyclometalated Platinum(IV) Complexes: Synthesis of Heteroleptic Derivatives and Computational Calculations

The synthesis, structure, electrochemistry, and photophysical properties of a series of heteroleptic tris‐ cyclometalated Pt^IV complexes are reported. The complexes mer‐[Pt(C^N)₂(C′^N′)]OTf, with C^N=C‐deprotonated 2‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl)pyridine (dfppy) or 2‐phenylpyridine (ppy), and C′^N′=C‐deprotonated 2‐(2‐thienyl)pyridine (thpy) or 1‐phenylisoquinoline (piq), were obtained by reacting bis‐ cyclometalated precursors [Pt(C^N)₂Cl₂] with AgOTf (2 equiv) and an excess of the N′^C′H pro‐ligand. The complex mer‐[Pt(dfppy)₂(ppy)]OTf was obtained analogously and photoisomerized to its fac counterpart. The new complexes display long‐lived luminescence at room temperature in the blue to orange color range. The emitting states involve electronic transitions almost exclusively localized on the ligand with the lowest π–π* energy gap and have very little metal character. DFT and time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT) calculations on mer‐[Pt(ppy)₂(C′^N′)]⁺ (C′^N′=thpy, piq) and mer/fac‐[Pt(ppy)₃]⁺ support this assignment and provide a basis for the understanding of the luminescence of tris‐cyclometalated Pt^IV complexes. Excited states of LMCT character may become thermally accessible from the emitting state in the mer isomers containing dfppy or ppy as chromophoric ligands, leading to strong nonradiative deactivation. This effect does not operate in the fac isomers or the mer complexes containing thpy or piq, for which nonradiative deactivation originates mainly from vibrational coupling to the ground state.     

Understanding Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence Efficiency in Blue‐Shifted Iridium(III)‐Complexes: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

Compared to tris(2‐phenylpyridine)iridium(III) ([Ir(ppy)₃]), iridium(III) complexes containing difluorophenylpyridine (df‐ppy) and/or an ancillary triazolylpyridine ligand [3‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐ylpyridinato (ptp) or 1‐benzyl‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐ylpyridine (ptb)] exhibit considerable hypsochromic shifts (ca. 25–60 nm), due to the significant stabilising effect of these ligands on the HOMO energy, whilst having relatively little effect on the LUMO. Despite their lower photoluminescence quantum yields compared with [Ir(ppy)₃] and [Ir(df‐ppy)₃], the iridium(III) complexes containing triazolylpyridine ligands gave greater electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) intensities (using tri‐n‐propylamine (TPA) as a co‐reactant), which can in part be ascribed to the more energetically favourable reactions of the oxidised complex (M⁺) with both TPA and its neutral radical oxidation product. The calculated iridium(III) complex LUMO energies were shown to be a good predictor of the corresponding M⁺ LUMO energies, and both HOMO and LUMO levels are related to ECL efficiency. The theoretical and experimental data together show that the best strategy for the design of efficient new blue‐shifted electrochemiluminophores is to aim to stabilise the HOMO, while only moderately stabilising the LUMO, thereby increasing the energy gap but ensuring favourable thermodynamics and kinetics for the ECL reaction. Of the iridium(III) complexes examined, [Ir(df‐ppy)₂(ptb)]⁺ was most attractive as a blue‐emitter for ECL detection, featuring a large hypsochromic shift (λ_max=454 and 484 nm), superior co‐reactant ECL intensity than the archetypal homoleptic green and blue emitters: [Ir(ppy)₃] and [Ir(df‐ppy)₃] (by over 16‐fold and threefold, respectively), and greater solubility in polar solvents.     

Luminescent Pincer Platinum(II) Complexes with Emission Quantum Yields up to Almost Unity: Photophysics,Photoreductive CC Bond Formation,and Materials Applications

Luminescent pincer‐type Pt^II complexes supported by C‐deprotonated π‐extended tridentate R? C^N^N? R′ ligands and pentafluorophenylacetylide ligands show emission quantum yields up to almost unity. Femtosecond time‐resolved fluorescence measurements and time‐dependent DFT calculations together reveal the dependence of excited‐state structural distortions of [Pt(R? C^N^N? R′)(C?C‐C₆F₅)] on the positional isomers of the tridentate ligand. Pt complexes [Pt(R‐C^N^N? R′)(C?C‐Ar)] are efficient photocatalysts for visible‐light‐induced reductive C? C bond formation. The [Pt(R‐C^N^N? R′)(C?C‐C₆F₅)] complexes perform strongly as phosphorescent dopants for green‐ and red‐emitting organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) with external quantum efficiency values over 22.1 %. These complexes are also applied in two‐photon cellular imaging when incorporated into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs).     

Luminescent Cyclometalated Alkynylplatinum(II) Complexes with a Tridentate Pyridine‐Based N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand: Synthesis,Characterization, Electrochemistry,Photophysics, and Computational Studies

A new class of luminescent alkynylplatinum(II) complexes with a tridentate pyridine‐based N‐heterocyclic carbene (2,6‐bis(1‐butylimidazol‐2‐ylidenyl)pyridine) ligand, [Pt^II(C^N^C)(C?CR)][PF₆], and their chloroplatinum(II) precursor complex, [Pt^II(C^N^C)Cl][PF₆], have been synthesized and characterized. One of the alkynylplatinum(II) complexes has also been structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The electrochemistry, electronic absorption and luminescence properties of the complexes have been studied. Nanosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy has also been performed to probe the nature of the excited state. The origin of the absorption and emission properties has been supported by computational studies.     

Stabilization of G‐Quadruplex DNA with Platinum(II) Schiff Base Complexes: Luminescent Probe and Down‐Regulation of c‐myc Oncogene Expression

The interactions of a series of platinum(II) Schiff base complexes with c‐myc G‐quadruplex DNA were studied. Complex [PtL ^1a ] ( 1 a ; H₂L ^1a =N,N′‐bis(salicylidene)‐4,5‐methoxy‐1,2‐phenylenediamine) can moderately inhibit c‐myc gene promoter activity in a cell‐free system through stabilizing the G‐quadruplex structure and can inhibit c‐myc oncogene expression in cultured cells. The interaction between 1 a and G‐quadruplex DNA has been examined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. By using computer‐aided structure‐based drug design for hit‐to‐lead optimization, an in silico G‐quadruplex DNA model has been constructed for docking‐based virtual screening to develop new platinum(II) Schiff base complexes with improved inhibitory activities. Complex [PtL ³ ] ( 3 ; H₂L ³ = N,N′‐bis{4‐[1‐(2‐propylpiperidine)oxy]salicylidene}‐4,5‐methoxy‐1,2‐phenylenediamine) has been identified with a top score in the virtual screening. This complex was subsequently prepared and experimentally tested in vitro for its ability to stabilize or induce the formation of the c‐myc G‐quadruplex. The inhibitory activity of 3 (IC₅₀=4.4 μM ) is tenfold more than that of 1 a . The interaction between 1 a or 3 with c‐myc G‐quadruplex DNA has been examined by absorption titration, emission titration, molecular modeling, and NMR titration experiments, thus revealing that both 1 a and 3 bind c‐myc G‐quadruplex DNA through an external end‐stacking mode at the 3’ terminal face of the G‐quadruplex. Such binding of G‐quadruplex DNA with 3 is accompanied by up to an eightfold increase in the intensity of photoluminescence at λ_max=652 nm. Complex 3 also effectively down‐regulated the expression of c‐myc in human hepatocarcinoma cells.     

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.     

Deep Red to Near‐Infrared Emitting Rhenium(I) Complexes: Synthesis,Characterization, Electrochemistry,Photophysics, and Electroluminescence Studies

A series of triarylamine‐containing tricarbonyl rhenium(I) complexes, [BrRe(CO)₃(N^N)] (N^N=5,5′‐bis(N,N‐diaryl‐4‐[ethen‐1‐yl]‐aniline)‐2,2′‐bipyridine), has been designed and synthesized by introducing a rhenium(I) metal center into a donor‐π‐acceptor‐π‐donor structure. All of the complexes showed an intense broad structureless emission band in dichloromethane at around 680–708 nm, which originated from an excited state of intraligand charge transfer (³ILCT) character from the triarylamine to the bipyridine moiety. Upon introduction of the bulky and electron‐donating pentaphenylbenzene units attached to the aniline groups, the emission bands were found to be red shifted. The nanosecond transient absorption spectra of two selected complexes were studied, which were suggestive of the formation of an initial charge‐separated state. Computational studies have been performed to provide further insight into the origin of the absorption and emission. One of the rhenium(I) complexes has been utilized in the fabrication of organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), representing the first example of the realization of deep red to near‐infrared rhenium(I)‐based OLEDs with an emission extending up to 800 nm.     

Design of Luminescent,Heteroleptic, Cyclometalated PtII and PtIV Complexes: Photophysics and Effects of the Cyclometalated Ligands

Neutral pentafluorophenyl benzoquinolinyl Pt^II [Pt(bzq)(HC^N−κN)(C₆F₅)] ( 1 a – g ) complexes, bearing nonmetalated N-heterocyclic HC^N ligands [HC^N=2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (Hoxd) a , 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (dfppy) b , 2-phenylbenzo[d]thiazole (pbt) c , 2-(4-bromophenyl)benzo[d]thiazole (Br-pbt) d , 2-phenylquinoline (pq) e , 2-thienylpyridine (thpy) f , 1-(2-pyridyl)pyrene (pypy) g ], and heteroleptic bis(cyclometalated) Pt^IV fac-[Pt(bzq)(C^N)(C₆F₅)Cl] ( 2 b – g , bzq: benzo[h]quinolinyl) derivatives, generated by oxidation of 1 b – g with PhICl₂, are reported. The oxidation reaction of 1 a evolved with formation of the bimetallic Pt^IV complex syn-[Pt(bzq)(C₆F₅)Cl(μ-OH)]₂ 3 . The crystal structures of 1 a,d,f , 2 b,d,e and 3 were corroborated by X-ray crystallography. A comparative study of the absorption and photoluminescence properties of the two series of complexes Pt^II ( 1 ) and Pt^IV ( 2 ), supported by time-dependent DFT calculations (TD-DFT), is presented. The low-lying transitions (absorption and emission) of Pt^II complexes 1 a – e [solution and polystyrene (PS) films] were assigned to the IL/MLCT mixture located on the cyclometalated Pt(bzq) unit, with minor IL′/ML′CT/LL′CT contributions involving the non-metalated ligand. Complex 1 g , bearing the more delocalized pyridyl pyrene (Hpypy) as an ancillary ligand, shows dual ¹ππ* and ³ππ* (Hpypy) emission in fluid CH₂Cl₂ and dual ³IL/³MLCT [Pt(bzq)] and [³ππ*, Hpypy] phosphorescence at 77 K. Upon oxidation, Pt^IV complexes 2 b – f display (solution, PS) ligand-based phosphorescence that arises from the bzq in 2 b (³LC) or from the second C^N ligand in 2 c – f (³L′C) with some ³LL′CT in 2 f . Despite metalation of the pyrenyl group, 2 g exhibits dual emission ¹ππ*/³ππ* located on the pypy chromophore.     

Organo‐ and Hydrogelators Based on Luminescent Monocationic Terpyridyl Platinum(II) Complexes with Biphenylacetylide Ligands

A series of phosphorescent terpyridyl platinum(II) complexes with ancillary biphenylacetylide ligands, namely, [(R₃tpy)PtC≡C(biphenyl)]X (R=tBu, H, or Et₂N; tpy=2,2′;6′,2′′‐terpyridyl; X is an anion) were synthesized and structurally characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and X‐ray diffraction methods. Despite a lack of long alkyl chain(s) or hydrogen‐bonding motif(s), complexes [(tpy)PtC≡C(biphenyl)]Cl and [(tBu₃tpy)PtC≡C(biphenyl)]X (X=Cl, ClO₄, PF₆, or BF₄) were found to gelate water and organic solvents, respectively. The self‐aggregation of these complexes in solutions and the resulting gels were investigated with variable‐temperature (VT) ¹H NMR spectroscopy, polarized optical microscopy, and absorption/emission spectroscopy. SEM micrographs on dry gels revealed entangled nanofibers with diameters of 20–40 nm and lengths of tens of micrometers. Powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) study revealed various degrees of crystallinity of these fibrillar nanostructures. The substituents on both the terpyridyl and acetylide ligands and counterion of these complexes play a profound but concerted role in tuning the intermolecular metal???metal and/or π–π interactions, and hence the gelation properties.     

Luminescent Platinum(II) Complexes of 1,3‐Bis(N‐alkylbenzimidazol‐ 2′‐yl)benzene‐Type Ligands with Potential Applications in Efficient Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes

A series of luminescent platinum(II) complexes of tridentate 1,3‐bis(N‐alkylbenzimidazol‐2′‐yl)benzene (bzimb) ligands has been synthesized and characterized. One of these platinum(II) complexes has been structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Their electrochemical, electronic absorption, and luminescence properties have been investigated. Computational studies have been performed on this class of complexes to elucidate the origin of their photophysical properties. Some of these complexes have been utilized in the fabrication of organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) by using either vapor deposition or spin‐coating techniques. Chloroplatinum(II)? bzimb complexes that are functionalized at the 5‐position of the aryl ring, [Pt(R‐bzimb)Cl], not only show tunable emission color but also exhibit high current and external quantum efficiencies in OLEDs. Concentration‐dependent dual‐emissive behavior was observed in multilayer OLEDs upon the incorporation of pyrenyl ligand into the Pt(bzimb) system. Devices doped with low concentrations of the complexes gave rise to white‐light emission, thereby representing a unique class of small‐molecule, platinum(II)‐based white OLEDs.     

Copper(II) Complexes with Asymmetrical Schiff Base Ligands Derived from 2‐Acetylpyrazine

New copper(II) complexes of asymmetrical tetradentate Schiff bases containing pyrazine have been prepared and thoroughly characterised by elemental analysis, IR and electronic spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and magnetic measurements. Two alternative methods were used in the isolation of the complexes: template synthesis in the preparation of Cu(SalDpyz)ClO₄ (HSalDPyz = derived from the condensation of salicylaldehyde, acetylpyrazine and 1,2‐ethylendiamine, 2‐methyl‐1,2‐propylendiamine, 1,2‐phenylendiamine) and direct interaction between copper perchlorate and the corresponding Schiff base, as in the isolation of Cu(AEPyz)(ClO₄) (HAEPyz = (Z)‐4‐[2‐{[2‐{[(E)‐1‐(pyrazinyl)ethylidene]amino} ethyl)amino]‐3‐penten‐2‐one)]. [Cu(SalEn)(py)(OClO₃)][Cu(SalEn)(py)]ClO₄ ( 1 ) (SalEn = 4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3‐aza‐3‐buten‐1‐amino, py = pyridine), metal precursor in the preparation of Cu(SalEnpyz)(ClO₄) (HSalEnpyz = 2‐{E(2‐{[(E)‐1‐(2‐pyrazinyl)ethylidene]amino}ethyl)imino]methyl}phenol), was crystallographically characterised. The crystal structure of [Cu(AEpyz)]ClO₄ ( 2 ) is also reported.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Luminescent Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complexes of 1,3‐Bis‐Hetero‐Azolylbenzenes with Tunable Color for Applications in Organic Light‐Emitting Devices through Extension of π Conjugation by Variation of the Heteroatom

A series of luminescent cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes of N^C^N ligands [N^C^N=2,6‐bis(benzoxazol‐2′‐yl)benzene (bzoxb), 2,6‐bis(benzothiazol‐2′‐yl)benzene (bzthb), and 2,6‐bis(N‐alkylnaphthoimidazol‐2′‐yl)benzene (naphimb)] has been synthesized and characterized. Two of the platinum(II) complexes have been structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Their electrochemical, electronic absorption, and luminescence properties have been investigated. In dichloromethane solution at room temperature, the cyclometalated N^C^N platinum(II) complexes exhibited rich luminescence with well‐resolved vibronic‐structured emission bands. The emission energies of the complexes are found to be closely related to the electronic properties of the N^C^N ligands. By varying the electronic properties of the cyclometalated ligands, a fine‐tuning of the emission energies can be achieved, as supported by computational studies. Multilayer organic light‐emitting devices have been prepared by utilizing two of these platinum(II) complexes as phosphorescent dopants, in which a saturated yellow emission with Commission International de I′Eclairage coordinates of (0.50, 0.49) was achieved.     

Ruthenium(II) Complexes Bearing Schiff Base Ligands for Efficient Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of Secondary Alcohols†

Four ruthenium(II) complexes 1—4 [RN=CH‐(2,4‐(^tBu)₂C₆H₂O)]RuH(PPh₃)₂(CO) (R = C₆H₅, 1; R = 4‐MeC₆H₄, 2; R = 4‐ClC₆H₄, 3; R = 4‐BrC₆H₄, 4) bearing Schiff base ligands were prepared by treating RuHClCO(PPh₃)₃ with RN=CH‐(2,4‐(^tBu)₂C₆H₂OH (L1—L4) in the presence of triethylamine. Their structures were fully characterized by elemental analysis, IR, NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. These Ru(II) complexes exhibit high catalytic performance and good functional‐group compatibility in the acceptorless dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols, affording the corresponding ketones in 82%—94% yields.     

Zinc(II) and Nickel(II) Complexes Based on Schiff Base Ligands: Synthesis,Crystal Structure,Luminescent and Magnetic Properties

Three new phenolate oxygen bridged transition metal complexes [Zn₃(HL¹)₃(μ₃‐CH₃O)]·(ClO₄)₂(H₂O)₃ ( 1 ), [Ni₂(HL¹)₂(μ_1,1‐N₃)(o‐vanillin)]·H₂O ( 2 ), [Ni₃(HL²)₂(PhCOO)₂(PhCOOH)₂(EtOH)₂] ( 3 ) have been synthesized by metal ions and potentially multidentate Schiff base ligands (H₂L¹ = 2‐((1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐ylimino) methyl)‐6‐methoxyphenol; H₃L² = (E)‐1‐((2‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐benzylidene)amino)ethane‐1,2‐diol). All the three complexes 1 , 2 , and 3 have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. Crystal structures reveal that complex 1 is a trinuclear incomplete cubane‐like zinc cluster whereas complex 2 is a dinuclear nickel complex bridged by azide, and compound 3 is a trinuclear nickel complex. The luminescent property for complex 1 and magnetic behaviors for complexes 2 and 3 have been investigated.     

Efficient Red Electroluminescent Devices with Sterically Hindered Phosphorescent Platinum(II) Schiff Base Complexes and Iridium Complex Codopant

Sterically hindered platinum(II) Schiff base complexes were prepared. Complex 4 , which displays red emission with a quantum yield of 0.29 in a thin film and a self‐quenching rate constant of 1×10^?7 dm³ mol^?1 s^?1, was used to fabricate organic light‐emitting diodes with single or double emissive layers (EMLs). An iridium(III) complex with a wide band gap was codoped into the electron‐dominant EML to act as a deep electron trapper, and red‐light‐emitting devices with the highest current, power, and external quantum efficiencies of 20.43 cd A^?1 18.33 Lm W^?1, and 11.7 %, respectively, were fabricated. A high current efficiency and EQE of up to 14.69 cd A^?1 and 8.3 %, respectively, were achieved at a high brightness of 1000 cd m^?2. The significant delay of efficiency roll‐off is attributed to the bulky 3D structure of the norbornene moiety at the periphery of the Schiff base ligand of 4 and to the new device design strategy. The fabricated device had a projected lifetime (LT50) of 18 000 h.     

Efficient Catalytic Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol Using Copper(II) Complexes with N,O-Chelating Schiff Base Ligands

The reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol by sodium borohydride was used as a model to test the catalytic activity of copper(II) complexes containing N,O-chelating Schiff base ligands. In this study, a series of copper(II) complexes containing respective Schiff base ligands, N′-salicylidene-2-aminophenol (1), N′-salicylidene-2-aminothiazole (2), and N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-o-phenylenediamine (3), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV-Visible (UV-Vis) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. The results from the 4-nitrophenol reduction showed that 3 has the highest catalytic activities with 97.5% conversion, followed by 2 and 1 with 95.2% and 90.8% conversions, respectively. The optimization of the catalyst amount revealed that 1.0 mol% of the catalyst was the most optimized amount with the highest conversion compared to the other doses, 0.5 mol% and 1.5 mol%. Recyclability and reproducibility tests confirmed that all three complexes were active, efficient, and possess excellent reproducibility with consistent catalytic performances and could be used again without a major decrease in the catalytic activity.     

Syntheses,Structures, and Properties of Mono‐ and Tetranuclear Nickel(II) Complexes Derived from a Tridentate Schiff Base Ligand

Three new nickel(II) complexes constructed with N‐(2‐hydroxybenzyl)‐β‐alanine (H₂L), namely [NiL(phen)H₂O]·H₂O ( 1 ) (phen = 1.10‐phenanthroline), [Ni₄L₄(H₂O)₄]·5H₂O ( 2 ) and K[Ni₄L₄(NCS)(H₂O)₅]·5.42H₂O ( 3 ) have been synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Complex 1 exhibits a discrete structure, and the structures are bound together through hydrogen bonding to a one‐dimensional chain in ladder‐like fashion. Complexes 2 and 3 contain similar [Ni₄(μ₂‐O)₆] cores with “zig‐zig” arrangement. In complex 3 , the tetranuclear nickel units [Ni₄L₄(H₂O)₄] and [Ni₄L₄(NCS)(H₂O)] are alternately bridged by potassium atoms to a one‐dimensional chain. The neighboring chains are further linked up by {K₂O₂} units to a two‐dimensional layer structure. Moreover, the IR, XRD, TGA and the temperature‐dependent magnetic susceptibility for 2 and 3 have also been studied.     

A Theoretical Investigation into the Luminescent Properties of d8‐Transition‐Metal Complexes with Tetradentate Schiff Base Ligands

A theoretical investigation on the luminescence efficiency of a series of d⁸ transition‐metal Schiff base complexes was undertaken. The aim was to understand the different photophysics of [M‐salen]ⁿ complexes (salen=N,N′‐bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine; M=Pt, Pd (n=0); Au (n=+1)) in acetonitrile solutions at room temperature: [Pt‐salen] is phosphorescent and [Au‐salen]⁺ is fluorescent, but [Pd‐salen] is nonemissive. Based on the calculation results, it was proposed that incorporation of electron‐withdrawing groups at the 4‐position of the Schiff base ligand should widen the ³MLCT–³MC gap (MLCT=metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer and MC=metal centered, that is, the dd excited state); thus permitting phosphorescence of the corresponding Pd^II Schiff base complex. Although it is experimentally proven that [Pd‐salph‐4E] (salph=N,N′‐bis(salicylidene)‐1,2‐phenylenediamine; 4E means an electron‐withdrawing substituent at the 4‐position of the salicylidene) displays triplet emission, its quantum yield is low at room temperature. The corresponding Pt^II Schiff base complex, [Pt‐salph‐4E], is also much less emissive than the unsubstituted analogue, [Pt‐salph]. Thus, a detailed theoretical analysis of how the substituent and central metal affected the photophysics of [M‐salph‐X] (X is a substituent on the salph ligand, M=Pt or Pd) was performed. Temperature effects were also investigated. The simple energy gap law underestimated the nonradiative decay rates and was insufficient to account for the temperature dependence of the nonradiative decay rates of the complexes studied herein. On the other hand, the present analysis demonstrates that inclusions of low‐frequency modes and the associated frequency shifts are decisive in providing better quantitative estimates of the nonradiative decay rates and the experimentally observed temperature effects. Moreover, spin–orbit coupling, which is often considered only in the context of radiative decay rate, has a significant role in determining the nonradiative rate as well.