Charge‐Neutral Amidinate‐Containing Iridium Complexes Capable of Efficient Photocatalytic Water Reduction

Two new charge‐neutral iridium complexes, [Ir(tfm‐ppy)₂(N,N′‐diisopropyl‐benzamidinate)] ( 1 ) and [Ir(tfm‐ppy)₂(N,N′‐diisopropyl‐4‐diethylamino‐3,5‐dimethyl‐benzamidinate)] ( 2 ) (tfm‐ppy=4‐trifluoromethyl‐2‐phenylpyridine) containing an amidinate ligand and two phenylpyridine ligands were designed and characterised. The photophysical properties, electrochemical behaviours and emission quenching properties of these species were investigated. In concert with the cobalt catalyst [Co(bpy)₃]²⁺, members of this new class of iridium complexes enable the photocatalytic generation of hydrogen from mixed aqueous solutions via an oxidative quenching pathway and display long‐term photostability under constant illumination over 72 h; one of these species achieved a relatively high turnover number of 1880 during this time period. In the case of complex 1 , the three‐component homogeneous photocatalytic system proved to be more efficient than a related system containing a charged complex, [Ir(tfm‐ppy)₂(dtb‐bpy)]⁺ ( 3 , dtb‐bpy=4,4′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐dipyridyl). In combination with a rhodium complex as a water reduction catalyst, the performances of the systems using both complexes were also evaluated, and these systems exhibited a more efficient catalytic propensity for water splitting than did the cobalt‐based systems that have been studied previously.     

Shielding of Electron Acceptors Coordinated to Rhenium(I) by Carboxylato Groups. Intraligand and Charge‐Transfer Excited‐State Properties of fac‐(‘Anthraquinone‐2‐carboxylato')(2,2′‐bipyridine)tricarbonylrhenium (fac‐[ReI(aq‐2‐CO2)(2,2′‐bipy)(CO)3])

The photophysical and photochemical properties of (OC‐6‐33)‐(2,2′‐bipyridine‐κN¹,κN¹′)tricarbonyl(9,10‐dihydro‐9,10‐dioxoanthracene‐2‐carboxylato‐κO)rhenium (fac‐[Re^I(aq‐2‐CO₂)(2,2′‐bipy)(CO)₃]) were investigated and compared to those of the free ligand 9,10‐dihydro‐9,10‐dioxoanthracene‐2‐carboxylate (=anthraquinone‐2‐carboxylate) and other carboxylato complexes containing the (2,2′‐bipyridine)tricarbonylrhenium ([Re(2,2′‐bipy)(CO)₃]) moiety. Flash and steady‐state irradiations of the anthraquinone‐derived ligand (λ_exc 337 or 351 nm) and of its complex reveal that the photophysics of the latter is dominated by processes initiated in the Re‐to‐(2,2′‐bipyridine) charge‐transfer excited state and 2,2′‐bipyridine‐ and (anthraquinone‐2‐carboxylato)‐centered intraligand excited states. In the reductive quenching by N,N‐diethylethanamine (TEA) or 2,2′,2″‐nitrilotris[ethanol] TEOA, the reactive states are the 2,2′‐bipyridine‐centered and/or the charge‐transfer excited states. The species with a reduced anthraquinone moiety is formed by the following intramolecular electron transfer, after the redox quenching of the excited state: [Re^I(aq−2−CO₂)(2,2′‐bipy^.)(CO)₃]⁻⇌[Re^I(aq−2−CO₂^.)(2,2′‐bipy)(CO)₃]⁻ The photophysics, particularly the absence of a Re^I‐to‐anthraquinone charge‐transfer excited state photochemistry, is discussed in terms of the electrochemical and photochemical results.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of novel amphiphilic ruthenium (II) complexes containing 4,4′‐dialkylaminomethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridyl ligands

The synthesis of a number of new 2,2′‐bipyridine ligands functionalized with bulky amino side groups is reported. Three homoleptic polypyridyl ruthenium (II) complexes, [Ru(L)₃]²⁺ 2(PF₆^?), where L is 4,4′‐dioctylaminomethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine (Ru4a), 4,4′‐didodecylaminomethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine (Ru4b) and 4,4′‐dioctadodecylaminomethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine (Ru4c), have been synthesized. These compounds were characterized and their photophysical properties examined. The electronic spectra of three complexes show pyridyl π → π* transitions in the UV region and metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer bands in the visible region. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photophysical Properties of Heteroleptic Iridium Complexes Containing Carbazole‐Functionalized β‐Diketonates

Twelve iridium complexes with general formula of Ir(C^N)₂(LX) [C^N represents the cyclometalated ligand, i.e. 2‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl) pyridine (dfppy), 2‐phenylpyridine (ppy), dibenzo{f, h}quinoxaline (DBQ); LX stands for β‐diketonate, i.e. acetyl acetonate (acac), 1‐(carbazol‐9‐yl)‐5,5‐dimethylhexane‐2,4‐diketonate (CBDK), 1‐(carbazol‐9‐yl)‐5,5,6,6,7,7,7‐heptafluoroheptane‐2,4‐diketonate (CHFDK), 1‐(N‐ethyl‐carbazol‐3‐yl)‐4,4,5,5,6,6,6‐heptafluorohexane‐1,3‐diketonate (ECHFDK)] are synthesized, characterized and their photophysical properties are systemically studied. In addition, crystals of Ir(DBQ)₂(CHFDK) and Ir(DBQ)₂(acac) are obtained and characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. The choice of these iridium complexes provides an opportunity for tracing the effect of the triplet energy level of ancillary ligands on the photophysical and electrochemical behaviors. Data show that if the triplet energy level of the β‐diketonate is higher than that of the Ir(C^N)₂ fragment and there is no superposition on the state density map, strong ³LC or ³MLCT‐based phosphorescence can be obtained. Alternatively, if the state density map of the two parts are in superposition, the ³LC or ³MLCT‐based transition will be quenched at room temperature. Density functional theory calculations show that these complexes can be divided into two categories. The lowest excited state is mainly determined by C^N but not β‐diketonate when the difference between the triplet energy levels of the two parts is large. However, when this difference is very small, the lowest excited state will be determined by both sides. This provides a satisfactory explanation for the experimental observations.     

Photophysical Properties of Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl DNA Intercalators: Effects of the Molecular Surroundings Investigated by Theory

The environmental effects on the structural and photophysical properties of [Ru(L)₂(dppz)]²⁺ complexes (L=bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine, phen=1,10‐phenanthroline, tap=1,4,5,8‐tetraazaphenanthrene; dppz=dipyrido[3,3‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine), used as DNA intercalators, have been studied by means of DFT, time‐dependent DFT, and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations. The electronic characteristics of the low‐lying triplet excited states in water, acetonitrile, and DNA have been investigated to decipher the influence of the environment on the luminescent behavior of this class of molecules. The lowest triplet intra‐ligand (IL) excited state calculated at λ≈800 nm for the three complexes and localized on the dppz ligand is not very sensitive to the environment and is available for electron transfer from a guanine nucleobase. Whereas the lowest triplet metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer (³MLCT) states remain localized on the ancillary ligand (tap) in [Ru(tap)₂(dppz)]²⁺, regardless of the environment, their character is drastically modified in the other complexes [Ru(phen)₂(dppz)]²⁺ and [Ru(bpy)₂(dppz)]²⁺ upon going from acetonitrile (MLCT_dppz/phen or MLCT_dppz/bpy) to water (MLCT_dppz) and DNA (MLCT_phen and MLCT_bpy). The change in the character of the low‐lying ³MLCT states accompanying nuclear relaxation in the excited state controls the emissive properties of the complexes in water, acetonitrile, and DNA. The light‐switching effect has been rationalized on the basis of environment‐induced control of the electronic density distributed in the lowest triplet excited states.     

Synthesis of New Ruthenium（Ⅱ）Bipyridyl Complexes and Studies on Their Photophysical and Photoelectrochemical Properties

Two new mixed-ligand ruthenium(Ⅱ） complexes,Ru(dcbpy)-(LL)NCS)2[where dcbpy=4,4‘-dicarboxyl-2,2‘‘-bipyridine,LL=4,4‘-bis(N-methyl-anilinomethyl)-2,2‘‘-bipyridine(2)],were synthesized,and the tphotophysical properties of these complexes were studied.The metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions of these complexes exhibited solvatochromic effect due to the existence of NCS ligands.The MLCT energies also strongly depend on the pH values of the solutions because of protonation and deprotonation of the carboxyl groups.The pKa values of the ground state,4.0 for 1 and 3.8 for 2,were obtained from the titration curves.The photoelectrochemical properties of 1 and 2 as sensitizers in sandwich-type solar cells have been studied.Complex 1 exhibited better photoelectrochemical behavior than complex 2 as expected.It was proved that the design of mixed-ligand complex by introducing electron donating group in one of the ligands should be a promising approach.     

Theoretical investigation on the spectroscopic properties of cyclometallated iridium (III) complexes and the deprotonation influence on them in solution

Electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of mixed‐ligand cyclometallated iridium complexes with general formula [Ir(N?C)₂(N?N)]⁺ (N?C = 2‐phenylpyridine, N?N = Hcmbpy = 4‐carboxyl‐4^′‐methyl‐2,2^′‐bipyridine, 1 ; H₂dcbpy = 4,4^′‐dicarboxyl‐2,2^′‐bipyridine, 2 ) were studied theoretically. The geometries of the complexes in ground and excited state were optimized at B3LYP and CIS levels, respectively. The absorption and emission of the complexes in CH₃CN solutions were calculated by time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) with the PCM solvent model. The calculated absorptions and emissions of the complexes are in good agreement with the measured results. The deprotonation influence on the electronic structure and the optical properties of 2 was also investigated. The results indicate that the deprotonation which occurs on the COOH groups influences the geometries of the complexes in ground and excited state slightly but leads to significant blue‐shifts in low energy absorption and emission maximum. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Structure–Property Relationships and 1O2 Photosensitisation in Sterically Encumbered Diimine PtII Acetylide Complexes

A series of sterically encumbered [Pt( L )(σ‐acetylide)₂] complexes were prepared in which L , a dendritic polyaromatic diimine ligand, was held constant ( L =1‐(2,2′‐bipyrid‐6‐yl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrakis(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)benzene) and the cis ethynyl co‐ligands were varied. The optical properties of the complexes were tuned by changing the electronic character, extent of π conjugation and steric bulk of the ethynyl ligands. Replacing electron‐withdrawing phenyl‐CF₃ substituents ( 4 ) with electron‐donating pyrenes ( 5 ) resulted in a red shift of both the lowest‐energy absorption (ΔE=3300 cm^?1, 61 nm) and emission bands (ΔE=1930 cm^?1, 64 nm). The emission, assigned in each case as phosphorescence on the basis of the excited‐state lifetimes, switched from being ³MMLL′CT‐derived (mixed metal–ligand‐to‐ligand charge transfer) when phenyl/polyphenylene substituents ( 3 , 4 , 6 ) were present, to ligand‐centred ³ππ* when the substituents were more conjugated aromatic platforms [pyrene ( 5 ) or hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene ( 7 )]. The novel Pt^II acetylide complexes 5 and 7 absorb strongly in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, which along with their long triplet excited‐state lifetimes suggested they would be good candidates for use as singlet‐oxygen photosensitisers. Determined by in situ photooxidation of 1,5‐dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN), the photooxidation rate with pyrenyl‐ 5 as sensitiser (k_obs=39.3×10^?3 min^?1) was over half that of the known ¹O₂ sensitiser tetraphenylporphyrin (k_obs=78.6×10^?3 min^?1) under the same conditions. Measured ¹O₂ quantum yields of complexes 5 and 7 were half and one‐third, respectively, of that of TPP, and thus reveal an efficient triplet–triplet energy‐transfer process in both cases.     

Iridium(III) Complexes with Sulfonyl and Fluorine Substituents: Synthesis,Stereochemistry and Effect of Functionalisation on their Photophysical Properties

The synthesis and photophysical and electrochemical characterisation of new heteroleptic iridium complexes with electron‐withdrawing sulfonyl groups and fluorine atoms bound to phenylpyridine ligands are reported. The emission energy of these materials strongly depends on the position of the sulfonyl groups and on the number of fluorine substituents. A 90 nm wide tuning range of photoluminescence from the blue‐green (λ_em=468 nm) of iridium(III)bis[2‐(4′‐benzylsulfonyl)phenylpyridinato‐N,C2′][3‐(pentafluorophenyl)‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐1,2,4‐triazolate] to the orange (λ_em=558 nm) of iridium(III)bis[2‐(3′‐benzylsulfonyl)phenylpyridinato‐N,C2′](2,4‐decanedionate) has been achieved. Emission quantum yields ranging from 47 to 71 % have also been found for degassed solutions of the complexes, and a surprisingly high value of 16 % was recorded for iridium(III)bis[2‐(5′‐benzylsulfonyl‐3′,6′‐difluoro)phenylpyridinato‐N,C2′](2,4‐decanedionate) in air‐equilibrated dichloromethane. A unusual stereochemistry of the benzylsulfonyl‐substituted dimer and heteroleptic complexes has been detected by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and is characterised by the mutual cis disposition of the pyridyl nitrogen atoms of the phenylpyridine ligands, which differs from the most common trans arrangement reported in the literature.     

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.     

Complexes of Rhodium(III) with Two Chelating C⁁N Ligands and One Diimine Ligand

The synthesis of two series of cyclometalated Rh^III compounds is described, namely of 5 dinuclear chlorobridged species [{Rh(C?N)₂} (μ-Cl)₂] A and of 15 mononuclear complexes [Rh(C?N)₂(N?N)]⁺ B ; C?N stands for five different cyclometalating ligands, i.e. deprotonated phenylpyridine, deprotonated 2-(thienyl)pyridine, and three deprotonated 1-aryl-1H-pyrazoles, and N?N for six diimine ligands such as 2,2-bihyridine, 2,2′-bi-1H-imidazole, and 2,2′-bipyrimidine. For (2,2′-bipyridine)bis[2-(thien-2-yl)pyridinato-N,C^3′]rhodium(III) chloride, an X-ray structure determination was carried out. In the other cases, ¹H-NMR spectra established the configuration of the complexes. All mononuclear and dinuclear complexes show a C,C cis-configuration. The UV/VIS-absorption bands at longest wavelength are most likely due to metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transitions, depending on the nature of the cyclometalating ligand C?N and on the diimine ligand N?N. The receptor orbital is in some cases on the cyclometalating ligand, in others on the diimine. All monomer complexes exhibit at least one reversible reduction wave in the cyclovoltammogram in dimethylformamide solutions, attributable to a ligand-centered reduction. It is, therefore, concluded that the LUMO in [Rh(C?N)₂(N?N)]⁺ is of L(π*) character, as opposed to [Rh(bpy)₃]³⁺, where it is a metal d-orbital. The crystal system of (2,2′-bipyridine)bis[2-(thien-2-yl)pyridinato-N,C_3′]rhodium(III) chloride—water (1/2.125) is tetragonal (space group P⁴; R = 0.036, R_w = 0.040). The Rh-atom has slightly distorted octahedral environment; the average distances are (Rh? N/thienyl? pyridine) = 2.060 (3), Rh? C = 1.9885 (3), and Rh? N(bipyridine) = 2.1415 (3) Å. Of the three ligands the 2,2′-bipyridine is the most planar.     

Tridentate Complexes of Palladium(II) and Platinum(II) Bearing bis‐Aryloxide Triazole Ligands: A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

A novel class of palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes bearing tridentate bis‐aryloxide triazole ligands was prepared by using straightforward and high‐yielding synthetic routes. The complexes were fully characterized and the molecular structures of four derivatives were unambigously determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometric analyses. For the most promising luminescent Pt^II derivatives, further experimental investigations were carried out to characterize their photophysical features and to ascertain the nature of the emitting excited state by means of electronic absorption, steady‐state, and time‐resolved emission techniques in different conditions. In degassed fluid solution the complexes displayed broad and featureless photoluminescence with λ_em=522–585 nm, excited‐state lifetime up to few microseconds and quantum yield (PLQY) up to 17 %, depending on the nature of both ancillary ligand and substituent on the tridentate ligand. Computational investigation using density functional theory and time‐dependent DFT were performed to gain insight into the electronic processes responsible for optical transitions and structure–photoluminescence relationship. Jointly, experimental and theoretical characterization indicated that the radiative transition arises from an excited state with admixed triplet‐manifold metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer and ligand‐centered (³MLCT/³LC) character. We elucidated the modulation of the photophysical properties upon variation of substituents for this new family of complexes.     

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

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

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

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

Masking of Lewis acidity trends in the solid‐state structures of trichlorido‐ and tribromido(2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐κ3N,N′,N′′)gallium(III)

The molecular structures of trichlorido(2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐κ³N,N′,N′′)gallium(III), [GaCl₃(C₁₅H₁₁N₃)], and tribromido(2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐κ³N,N′,N′′)gallium(III), [GaBr₃(C₁₅H₁₁N₃)], are isostructural, with the Ga^III atom displaying an octahedral geometry. It is shown that the Ga—N distances in the two complexes are the same within experimental error, in contrast to expected bond lengthening in the bromide complex due to the lower Lewis acidity of GaBr₃. Thus, masking of the Lewis acidity trends in the solid state is observed not only for complexes of group 13 metal halides with monodentate ligands but for complexes with the polydentate 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine donor as well.     

Efficient Electronic Communication of Two Ruthenium Centers through a Rigid Ditopic N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Linker

A ditopic benzobis(carbene) ligand precursor was prepared that contained a chelating pyridyl moiety to ensure co‐planarity of the carbene ligand and the coordination plane of a bound octahedral metal center. Bimetallic ruthenium complexes comprising this ditopic ligand [L₄Ru‐C,N‐bbi‐C,N‐RuL₄] were obtained by a transmetalation methodology (C,N‐bbi‐C,N=benzobis(N‐pyridyl‐N′‐methyl‐imidazolylidene). The two metal centers are electronically decoupled when the ruthenium is in a pseudotetrahedral geometry imparted by a cymene spectator ligand (L₄=[(cym)Cl]). Ligand exchange of the Cl^?/cymene ligands for two bipyridine or four MeCN ligands induced a change of the coordination geometry to octahedral. As a consequence, the ruthenium centers, separated through space by more than 10 Å, become electronically coupled, which is evidenced by two distinctly different metal‐centered oxidation processes that are separated by 134 mV (L₄=[(bpy)₂]; bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine) and 244 mV (L₄=[(MeCN)₄]), respectively. Hush analysis of the intervalence charge‐transfer bands in the mixed‐valent species indicates substantial valence delocalization in both complexes (delocalization parameter Γ=0.41 and 0.37 in the bpy and MeCN complexes, respectively). Spectroelectrochemical measurements further indicated that the mixed‐valent Ru^II/Ru^III species and the fully oxidized Ru^III/Ru^III complexes gradually decompose when bound to MeCN ligands, whereas the bpy spectators significantly enhance the stability. These results demonstrate the efficiency of carbenes and, in particular, of the bbi ligand scaffold for mediating electron transfer and for the fabrication of molecular redox switches. Moreover, the relevance of spectator ligands is emphasized for tailoring the degree of electronic communication through the benzobis(carbene) linker.     

Photosensitized Generation of Singlet Oxygen from (Substituted Bipyridine)ruthenium(II) Complexes

Photophysical properties in dilute MeCN solution are reported for seven Ru^II complexes containing two 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy) ligands and different third ligands, six of which contain a variety of 4,4′‐carboxamide‐disubstituted 2,2′‐bipyridines, for one complex containing no 2,2′‐bipyridine, but 2 of these different ligands, for three multinuclear Ru^II complexes containing 2 or 4 [Ru(bpy)₂] moieties and also coordinated via 4,4′‐carboxamide‐disubstituted 2,2′‐bipyridine ligands, and for the complex [(Ru(bpy)₂(L)]²⁺ where L is N,N′‐([2,2′‐bipyridine]‐4,4′‐diyl)bis[3‐methoxypropanamide]. Absorption maxima are red‐shifted with respect to [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺, as are phosphorescence maxima which vary from 622 to 656 nm. The lifetimes of the lowest excited triplet metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer states ³MLCT in de‐aerated MeCN are equal to or longer than for [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ and vary considerably, i.e., from 0.86 to 1.71 μs. Rate constants k_q for quenching by O₂ of the ³MLCT states were measured and found to be well below diffusion‐controlled, ranging from 1.2 to 2.0⋅10⁹ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. The efficiencies f of singlet‐oxygen formation during oxygen quenching of these ³MLCT states are relatively high, namely 0.53 – 0.89. The product of k_q and f gives the net rate constant k for quenching due to energy transfer to produce singlet oxygen, and k_q−k equals k, the net rate constant for quenching due to energy dissipation of the excited ³MLCT states without energy transfer. The quenching rate constants were both found to correlate with ΔG^CT, the free‐energy change for charge transfer from the excited Ru complex to oxygen, and the relative and absolute values of these rate constants are discussed.     

Tuning the Excited—state Properties of Cyclometalated Platinum（Ⅱ）Complexes of 6—Pheny1—2,2’bipyridine by Ancillary Acetylide Ligand

A series of luminescent cyclometalated platinum(Ⅱ）complexes,(C^N^N)Pt(C≡CR)[HC^N^N=4-(4-tolyl)-6-phenyl-2,2’-bipyridine;R=4-chlorophenyl(1),phenyl(2) and 4-tolyl(3)],were synthesized,and their spectroscopic properties have been examined.These complexes are brightly emissive both in fluid solution and in the solid state,attributed to triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer(^3MLCT)state.The excited state energy can be tuned by ancillary acetylide ligands.The emission lifetimes in dichloromethand solution at room temperature were up to 1.64 μs and the emission quantum yields were in the range of 0.03-0.15.     

Coordination Adducts of Niobium(V) and Tantalum(V) Azide M(N3)5 (M=Nb,Ta) with Nitrogen Donor Ligands and their Self‐Ionization

Several new donor–acceptor adducts of niobium and tantalum pentaazide with N‐donor ligands have been prepared from the pentafluorides by fluoride–azide exchange with Me₃SiN₃ in the presence of the corresponding donor ligand. With 2,2′‐bipyridine and 1,10‐phenanthroline, the self‐ionization products [MF₄(2,2′‐bipy)₂]⁺[M(N₃)₆]^?, [M(N₃)₄(2,2′‐bipy)₂]⁺[M(N₃)₆]^? and [M(N₃)₄(1,10‐phen)₂]⁺[M(N₃)₆]^? were obtained. With the donor ligands 3,3′‐bipyridine and 4,4′‐bipyridine the neutral pentaazide adducts (M(N₃)₅)₂?L (M=Nb, Ta; L=3,3′‐bipy, 4,4′‐bipy) were formed.     

Synthesis,Structural Characterization,Photophysics, and Broadband Nonlinear Absorption of a Platinum(II) Complex with the 6‐(7‐Benzothiazol‐2′‐yl‐9,9‐diethyl‐9 H‐fluoren‐2‐yl)‐2,2′‐bipyridinyl Ligand

A platinum complex with the 6‐(7‐benzothiazol‐2′‐yl‐9,9‐diethyl‐9H‐fluoren‐2‐yl)‐2,2′‐bipyridinyl ligand ( 1 ) was synthesized and the crystal structure was determined. UV/Vis absorption, emission, and transient difference absorption of 1 were systematically investigated. DFT calculations were carried out on 1 to characterize the electronic ground state and aid in the understanding of the nature of low‐lying excited electronic states. Complex 1 exhibits intense structured ¹π–π* absorption at λ_abs<440 nm, and a broad, moderate ¹M LCT/¹LLCT transition at 440–520 nm in CH₂Cl₂ solution. A structured ³π–π*/³M LCT emission at about 590 nm was observed at room temperature and at 77 K. Complex 1 exhibits both singlet and triplet excited‐state absorption from 450 nm to 750 nm, which are tentatively attributed to the ¹π–π* and ³π–π* excited states of the 6‐(7‐benzothiazol‐2′‐yl‐9,9‐diethyl‐9H‐fluoren‐2‐yl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine ligand, respectively. Z‐scan experiments were conducted by using ns and ps pulses at 532 nm, and ps pulses at a variety of visible and near‐IR wavelengths. The experimental data were fitted by a five‐level model by using the excited‐state parameters obtained from the photophysical study to deduce the effective singlet and triplet excited‐state absorption cross sections in the visible spectral region and the effective two‐photon absorption cross sections in the near‐IR region. Our results demonstrate that 1 possesses large ratios of excited‐state absorption cross sections relative to that of the ground‐state in the visible spectral region; this results in a remarkable degree of reverse saturable absorption from 1 in CH₂Cl₂ solution illuminated by ns laser pulses at 532 nm. The two‐photon absorption cross sections in the near‐IR region for 1 are among the largest values reported for platinum complexes. Therefore, 1 is an excellent, broadband, nonlinear absorbing material that exhibits strong reverse saturable absorption in the visible spectral region and large two‐photon‐assisted excited‐state absorption in the near‐IR region.