Ru2+ complexes comprising terpyridine ligands appended with terthiophene chromophores: energy transfer and energy reservoir effect

Two Ru(2+) complexes containing terpyridine ligands appended with terthiophene units connected by a methyleneoxy or an alkynyl bridge show very different luminescent behaviours: the former is non-luminescent at 298 K owing to a photoinduced energy transfer process to the terthiophene moiety, while the latter exhibits an extraordinary long excited state lifetime because of an energy reservoir effect.     

Photophysical and electrochemical properties of heteroleptic tris-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes

Mixed (difluoro)phenylpyridine/(difluoro)phenylpyrazole tris-cyclometalated iridium complexes were prepared in order to study the effect of fluorination and the pyridine/pyrazole ratio on the emission and electrochemical properties. Increasing fluorination and replacement of pyridine by pyrazole both leads to a widening of the HOMO-LUMO gap and generally leads to a blue shift in emission.     

Photophysical and electrochemical properties of heteroleptic tris-cyclometallated Ir(III) complexes

Some new heteroleptic tris-cyclometallated iridium(III) complexes have been synthesized and fully characterized. Among these iridium(III) complexes, bis(1-phenylpyrazolato-N,C^2′)iridium(III)[5-(2′-pyridyl)tetrazolate] (3) and bis(3-methyl-1-phenylpyrazolato-N,C^2′)iridium(III)[5-(2′-pyridyl)tetrazolate] (4) show excellent quantum yields at room temperature, the electron density being perturbed by introducing the pyridyltetrazole ligand, making k_r > k_nr. This destroys the concept of phenylpyrazole based iridium complexes.     

Photophysical properties of copper(I) and zinc(II) complexes containing phosphinoquinoline ligands

Several copper(I) and zinc(II) complexes with 8-(diphenylphosphino)quinoline (PPh₂qn) or 8-diphenylphosphinoquinaldine (PPh₂qna) have been prepared. These ligands contain both imine and phosphine moieties, which can act as coordinating groups. X-ray analysis of the Cu(I) complexes reveals that [Cu(PPh₂qn)₂]PF₆ (Cu-1) and [Cu(PPh₂qn)₂]PF₆ (Cu-2), coordinated by two PPh₂qn and PPh₂qna ligands respectively, are obtained. In the Zn(II) complexes, a structural study shows that [ZnCl₂(PPh₂qn)] (Zn-1), [ZnBr₂(PPh₂qn)] (Zn-2) and [ZnI₂(PPh₂qn)] (Zn-3) are coordinated by one PPh₂qn ligand and two of the corresponding halogeno ligands (Cl⁻, Br⁻ and I⁻). In the solid state Cu-1 and Cu-2 show luminescence which is assigned to a ³MLCT transition involving π∗ of the quinoline group, as shown in the [Cu(dmp)(diphosphine)]⁺ complexes; due to the reduced bulkiness of the coordination sphere around the copper atom, no emission is observed in solution. Zn-1 shows a similar emission band to that of free PPh₂qn at both room temperature and 77 K. It suggests the emission bands should be assigned to a ligand-centered (LC) transition. In the solid state, it is found that the emissive energy of the complexes shift to lower energy and the energy depends on the halogeno ligands in the zinc complexes.     

Photophysical properties of Ru(II) bipyridyl complexes containing hemilabile phosphine-ether ligands

Emission and absorbance spectra, along with low-temperature excited-state lifetimes, were obtained for the hemilabile complexes, [Ru(bpy)2L](PF6)2 [L = (2-methoxyphenyl)diphenylphosphine (RuPOMe) (1) and (2-ethoxyphenyl)diphenylphosphine (RuPOEt) (2)] in solid 4:1 ethanol/methanol solution. Spectral data were evaluated with ground-state reduction potentials using Lever parameters. Lifetime data for these complexes were collected from 77 to 160 K, and the rate constant for the combined radiative and nonradiative decay process, k, the thermally activated process prefactor, k'(0), the rate constant for the MLCT --> d-d transition, k', and the activation energy, DeltaE', were calculated from a plot of ln(1/tau) versus 1/T for both (1) and (2). The low-temperature luminescence lifetimes of (1) were observed to decrease with increases in water concentration. The photophysical and kinetic data of (1) and (2) are compared to literature data for [Ru(bpy)3](PF6)2. The emission maxima of (1) and (2) are blue-shifted relative to [Ru(bpy)3](PF6)2 due to the presence of the strong-field phosphine ligand, which enhances pi back-bonding to the bipyridyl ligands. The thermal activation energy, DeltaE', is significantly larger for [Ru(bpy)3](PF6)2 than for (1) and (2) resulting in a faster MLCT --> d-d transition for (1) and (2). These results are discussed in the context of radiationless decay through thermally activated ligand-field states on the metal complex.     

Photophysical and anion sensing properties of platinum(II) terpyridyl complexes with phenolic ethynyl ligands

A series of platinum(ii) terpyridyl complexes with phenolic ethynyl ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Their photophysical and sensing properties towards anions such as fluoride, acetate and dihydrogenphosphate have been investigated. These complexes show a colorimetric response and fluorescence quenching in the presence of anions including fluoride, acetate and dihydrogenphosphate, and selective sensing towards fluoride in some cases. The sensing mechanism has been investigated by spectrophotometric and (1)H NMR titration.     

Photophysical and electrochemical properties of Ru(II) complexes containing tridentate bisphosphino-oligothiophene ligands

Nine Ru(II) complexes containing the conjugated oligothiophene ligands 3,3'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2,2':5',2'-terthiophene (P(2)T(3)) and 4',3'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-3,3'-dihexyl- 2,2':5',2':5',2':5',2'-pentathiophene (P(2)T(5)) were prepared and characterized. P(2)T(3) and P(2)T(5) bond as tridentate ligands and three of the complexes (1, 2 and 5) form green five-coordinate Ru(II) complexes in solution. Cyclic voltammetry, variable temperature UV-vis spectroscopy and time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy were used to characterize the electronic properties of the complexes. Increased conjugation in the complexes containing the P(2)T(5) ligand resulted in a lowering of the oxidation potential of the oligothiophene, but electropolymerization was not observed. The electronic spectra were dominated by π-π* transitions. All of the complexes were non-emissive both at room temperature and low temperature, indicating the excited state decays by other, non-radiative pathways. The transient absorption spectrum of complex 7 shows a species with a band at 475 nm and a lifetime of ～100 ns, assigned to a ligand-based triplet state.     

Luminescense properties of new complexes of Eu(III) and Tb(III) with heterotopic ligands

As a result of coordination between ligands L and L' and europium(III) and terbium(III) ions, the new architectures were formed. The formulae of the complexes have been assigned on the basis of the spectroscopic data in solution and microanalyses. The europium complexes show excellent luminescence properties with high quantum yield (1b-Eu(3)L(2)) and effective intramolecular energy transfer from the ligand to the Eu(III) ions.     

Photophysical properties of near-infrared-emitting Ln(III) complexes with 1-(9-Anthryl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-1,3-butandione (Ln = Nd and Er)

We report the synthesis and photophysical properties of Nd(III) and Er(III) complexes with 1-(9-anthryl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-1,3-butandione (9-ATFB). The complexes of [Nd(9-ATFB)4]- and [Er(9-ATFB)4]- produced sensitized near-infrared (NIR) luminescence via the excitation of anthracene. This suggests that the intramolecular energy transfer occurred from the singlet excited state of anthracene to the resonance levels of the metal ions, since the phosphorescence of anthracene is forbidden under normal conditions. The observed quantum yield of the visible luminescence showed that the energy transfer is more efficient for [Nd(9-ATFB)4]- than for [Er(9-ATFB)4]-. The lifetimes of the NIR luminescence of the complexes were in the microsecond range. The quantum yields of the sensitized NIR of the complexes were estimated using the lifetime and the energy-transfer quantum yield.     

Observation of internal electron transfer in bulky allyl ytterbium complexes with substituted terpyridine ligands

A series of new bulky allyl terpyridyl-ytterbium complexes have been synthesized to determine the effect of allyl ligands on the internal charge-transfer process that exists in these materials. Compared to the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl-ytterbocene compound Cp*2Yb(tpyCN) (nu(C(triple bond)N) = 2172 cm(-1)), the symmetrically substituted allyl complex [1,3-(SiMe3)2C3H3]2Yb(tpyCN) possesses a markedly lowered C(triple bond)N frequency of 2130 cm(-1). Furthermore, the electronic nature of these bulky allyl complexes can be tuned, as demonstrated by the C(triple bond)N frequency of the asymmetric derivatives [1-(SiMe3)C3H4]2Yb(tpyCN) and [1-(SiPh3)-3-(SiMe3)C3H3]2Yb(tpyCN) (2171 and 2164 cm(-1), respectively). The differences in these frequencies can be attributed to differences in the ligands' steric and electronic character. Single-crystal X-ray characterization of [1,3-(SiMe3)2C3H3]2Yb(tpy) reveals that the allyl moiety possesses shorter Yb-C and Yb-N bond distances than the Cp* analogue. The magnetic susceptibility data for [1,3-(SiMe3)2C3H3]2Yb(tpy) departs dramatically from the Curie law, with a room-temperature magnetic moment of 2.95 mu(B).     

Photophysical properties and tunable colour changes of silica single layers doped with lanthanide(III) complexes

Highly stable Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes, emitting in the red and green visible regions, respectively, have been anchored onto a single SiO(2) transparent layer, yielding ca. 40 nm thick films; this allows high loading of tailored proportions of the red and green emitters within the films and results in highly uniform and easily colour-tunable luminescent layers.     

Dearomatization and functionalization of terpyridine by lutetium(III) alkyl complexes

Lutetium(III)-bis(alkyl) and -tris(alkyl) fragments supported by either 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine or 4,4',4' '-tri-tert-butyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine are not stable and undergo facile 1,3-alkyl migration under ambient conditions resulting in dearomatization and ortho (2' or 6') functionalization of the terpyridyl ligand, clearly demonstrating that the terpyridyl ligand framework is not as innocent as previously thought.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of platinum(II) terpyridine complexes having an arylborane charge transfer unit

Synthesis, redox, spectroscopic, and photophysical properties of a new class of Pt(II) complexes of the type [PtLnCl]+ are reported, where Ln is 4'-phenyl(dimesitylboryl)-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine (L1) or 4'-duryl(dimesitylboryl)-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine (L2). The free L1 or L2 ligand in CH3CN shows the absorption band responsible for intramolecular charge transfer (CT) from the pi-orbital of the aryl group in L1 or L2 (pi(aryl)) to the vacant p-orbital on the boron atom (p(B)), in addition to pipi* absorption in the 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine (tpy) unit. In particular, the L1 ligand shows an intense CT absorption band as compared with L2. Such intramolecular pi(aryl)-p(B) CT interactions in L1 give rise to large influences on the redox, spectroscopic, and photophysical properties of [PtL1Cl]+. In practice, [PtL1Cl]+ shows strong room-temperature emission in CHCl3 with the quantum yield and lifetime of 0.011 and 0.6 micros, respectively, which has been explained by synergetic effects of Pt(II)-to-L1 MLCT and pi(aryl)-p(B) CT interactions on the electronic structures of the complex. In the case of [PtL2Cl]+, the dihedral angle between the planes produced by the tpy and duryl(dimesitylborane) groups is very large (84 degrees ) as compared with that between the tpy and phenyl(dimesitylborane) units in [PtL1Cl]+ (26-39 degrees ), which disturbs electron communication between the Pt(II)-tpy and arylborane units in [PtL2Cl]+. Thus, [PtL2Cl]+ is nonemissive at room temperature. The important roles of the synergetic CT interactions in the excited-state properties of the [PtL1Cl]+ complex are shown clearly by emission quenching of the complex by a fluoride ion. The X-ray crystal structure of [PtL1Cl]+ is also reported.     

Redox properties of cobalt(II) and methylcobalt(III) complexes with dianionic macrocyclic polychelate ligands

Redox potentials of a series of complexes of cobalt(II) and organocobalt(III) with tetraazamacrocyclic (N₄) and N₂O₂-noncyclic polychelate ligands have been determined by cyclic voltammetry. Introduction of ano-phenylene fragment instead of an ethylene fragment into an equatorial ligand and/or exchange of an N₄-coordination chromophore for the N₂O₂-analog has been shown to result in the anodic shift of redox potentials of MeCo(IV)L/ MeCo(III)L, MeCo(III)L/MeCo(II)L, and Co(II)L/Co(I)L pairs. It has been established that the solvent effect on redox potential is larger for Co(III)L/Co(II)L than for other pairs. Apparently, this is the first case when quasi-reversible stages of oxidation of MeCo(III)L to MeCo(IV)L⁺ and MeCo(IV)L⁺ to [MeCo(IV)L]²⁺ can be simultaneously observed. A. relatively stable complex of methylcobalt(IV) with a long lifetime at 20 °C has been registered by the ESR method.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1029–1033, June, 1993.     

Synthesis and characterization of Pr(III), Nd(III) and Er(III) complexes with 2,6-pyridinedimethanol

The reactions of Ln(NO₃)₃?6H₂O (Ln=Pr, Nd or Er) with the potentially tridentate O,N,O chelating ligand 2,6-pyridinedimethanol (H₂pydm) in a 1:2 M ratio were investigated, and complexes with the formula [Ln(H₂pydm)₂(NO₃)₂](NO₃) (Ln=Pr or Nd) (1 and 2) and [Er(H₂pydm)₃](NO₃)₃ (3) were isolated. The compounds contain 10-coordinate Pr(III) and Nd(III) ions that crystallize in the triclinic space group P-1 while the 9-coordinate Er(III) complex crystallizes in the monoclinic system (P2₁/n). A new lanthanide complex, [Pr(H₂pydm)₃](Cl)₃?DMF (4), has been synthesized by reaction of PrCl₃?6H₂O and H₂pydm. The nine-coordinate Pr(III) is bound to three H₂pydm ligands. X-ray crystal structures of 1–4 reveal that the ligand coordinates tridentate via the pyridyl nitrogen and the two hydroxyl oxygens. The electronic absorption spectra of 1–4 show 4f–4f transitions.     

Synthesis, characterization, and photochemical properties of azobenzene-conjugated Ru(II) and Rh(III) bis(terpyridine) complexes

We synthesized azobenzene-conjugated bis(terpyridine) Ru(II) and Rh(III) mononuclear and dinuclear complexes and investigated their photochemical properties on excitation of the azo pi-pi band upon 366 nm light irradiation. The Ru mononuclear complex underwent trans-to-cis photoisomerization to reach the photostationary state with only 20% of the cis form, while the Ru dinuclear complex did not isomerize at all photochemically. On the other hand, the mononuclear and dinuclear Rh complexes showed almost complete trans-to-cis photoisomerization behavior. Cis forms of the Rh complexes thermally returned to the trans form at a much slower rate than those of organic azobenzenes, but they did not isomerize photochemically. The reduction potential of the cis forms was 80 mV more negative than that of the trans forms. The photoisomerization quantum yields of the Rh complexes were strongly dependent on the polarity, viscosity, and donor site of the solvents as well as the size of the counterions. We investigated the photoisomerization process of these complexes using femtosecond absorption spectroscopy. For the Rh complexes, we observed S(n) <-- S(2) and S(n) <-- S(1) absorption bands similar to those of organic azobenzenes. For the Ru complexes, we observed very fast bleaching of the MLCT band of the Ru complex, which indicated that the energy transfer pathway to the MLCT was the primary cause of the depressed photoisomerization. The electronic structures, which were estimated from ZINDO molecular orbital calculation, supported the different photochemical reaction behavior between the Ru and Rh complexes.     

Phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes with nonconjugated cyclometalated ligands

A series of blue phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes 1-4 with nonconjugated N-benzylpyrazole ligands were synthesized and their structural, electrochemical, and photophysical properties were investigated. Complexes 1-4 exhibit phosphorescence with yields of 5-45 % in degassed CH2Cl2. Of the compounds, 1 showed emission that was nearly true blue at 460 nm with a lack of vibronic progression. These photophysical data clearly demonstrate that the methylene spacer of the cyclometalated N-benzylpyrazole chelate effectively interrupts the pi conjugation upon reacting with a third L X chelating chromophore. This gives a feasible synthesis for the blue phosphorescent complexes with a sufficiently large energy gap. In another approach, these complexes were investigated for their suitability for the host material in phosphorescent OLEDs. The device was synthesized by using 1 as the host for the green-emitting [Ir(ppy)3] dopant, which exhibits an external quantum conversion efficiency (EQE) of up to 11.4 % photons per electron (and 36.6 cdA(-1)), with 1931 Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.30, 0.59), a peak power efficiency of 21.7 lmW(-1), and a maximum brightness of 32000 cdm(-2) at 14.5 V. At the practical brightness of 100 cdm(-2), the efficiency remains above 11 % and 18 lmW(-1), demonstrating its great potential as the host material for phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes.