Ultrafast structural rearrangements in the MLCT excited state for copper(I) bis-phenanthrolines in solution

Ultrafast excited-state structural dynamics of [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](+) (dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) have been studied to identify structural origins of transient spectroscopic changes during the photoinduced metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transition that induces an electronic configuration change from Cu(I) (3d(10)) to Cu(II) (3d(9)). This study has important connections with the flattening of the Franck-Condon state tetrahedral geometry and the ligation of Cu(II)* with the solvent observed in the thermally equilibrated MLCT state by our previous laser-initiated time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (LITR-XAS) results. To better understand the structural photodynamics of Cu(I) complexes, we have studied both [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](+) and [Cu(I)(dpp)(2)](+) (dpp = 2,9-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) in solvents with different dielectric constants, viscosities, and thermal diffusivities by transient absorption spectroscopy. The observed spectral dynamics suggest that a solvent-independent inner-sphere relaxation process is occurring despite the large amplitude motions due to the flattening of the tetrahedral coordinated geometry. The singlet fluorescence dynamics of photoexcited [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](+) were measured in the coordinating solvent acetonitrile, using the fluorescence upconversion method at different emission wavelengths. At the bluest emission wavelengths, a prompt fluorescence lifetime of 77 fs is attributed to the excited-state deactivation processes due to the internal conversion and intersystem crossing at the Franck-Condon state geometry. The differentiation between the prompt fluorescence lifetime with the tetrahedral Franck-Condon geometry and that with the flattened tetrahedral geometry uncovers an unexpected ultrafast flattening process in the MLCT state of [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](+). These results provide guidance for future X-ray structural studies on ultrafast time scale, as well as for synthesis toward its applications in solar energy conversion.     

Structure-dependent photophysical properties of singlet and triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer states in copper(I) bis(diimine) compounds

The photophysical properties of singlet and triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) states of [Cu(I)(diimine)(2)](+), where diimine is 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmphen), 2,9-dibutyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dbphen), or 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dmbpy), were studied. On 400 nm laser excitation of [Cu(dmphen)(2)](+) in CH(2)Cl(2) solution, prompt (1)MLCT fluorescence with a quantum yield of (2.8 +/- 0.8) x 10(-5) was observed using a picosecond time-correlated single photon counting technique. The quantum yield was dependent on the excitation wavelength, suggesting that relaxation of the Franck-Condon state to the lowest (1)MLCT competes with rapid intersystem crossing (ISC). The fluorescence lifetime of the copper(I) compound was 13-16 ps, unexpectedly long despite a large spin-orbit coupling constant of 3d electrons in copper (829 cm(-1) ). Quantum chemical calculations using a density functional theory revealed that the structure of the lowest (1)MLCT in [Cu(dmphen)(2)](+) (1(1)B(1)) was flattened due to the Jahn-Teller effect in 3d(9) electronic configuration, and the dihedral angle between the two phenanthroline planes (dha) was about 75 degrees with the dha around 90 degrees in the ground state. Intramolecular reorganization energy for the radiative transition of 1(1)B(1) was calculated as 2.1 x 10(3) cm(-1), which is responsible for the large Stokes shift of the fluorescence observed (5.4 x 10(3) cm(-1)). To understand the sluggishness of the intersystem crossing (ISC) of (1)MLCT of the copper(I) compounds, the strength of the spin-orbit interaction between the lowest (1)MLCT (1(1)B(1)) and all (3)MLCT states was calculated. The ISC channels induced by strong spin-orbit interactions (ca. 300 cm(-1)) between the metal-centered HOMO and HOMO - 1 were shown to be energetically unfavorable in the copper(I) compounds because the flattening distortion caused large splitting (6.9 x 10(3) cm(-1)) between these orbitals. The possible ISC is therefore induced by weak spin-orbit interactions (ca. 30 cm(-1)) between ligand-centered molecular orbitals. Further quantum mechanical study on the spin-orbit interaction between the lowest (3)MLCT (1(3)A) and all (1)MLCT states indicated that the phosphorescence borrows intensity from 2(1)B(1). The radiative rate of the phosphorescence was also structure-sensitive. The flattening distortion reduced the transition dipole moment of 2(1)B(1) --> the ground state, and decreased the extent of mixing between 1(3)A and 2(1)B(1), thereby considerably reducing the phosphorescence radiative rate at the MLCT geometry compared to that at the ground state geometry. The theoretical calculation satisfactorily reproduced the radiative rate of ca. 10(3) s(-1) and accounted for the structure-sensitive phosphorescence intensities of copper(I) bis(diimine) compounds recently demonstrated by Felder et al. (Felder, D.; Nierengarten, J. F.; Barigelletti, F.; Ventura, B.; Armaroli, N. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 6291).     

MLCT state structure and dynamics of a copper(I) diimine complex characterized by pump-probe X-ray and laser spectroscopies and DFT calculations

The molecular structure and dynamics of the photoexcited metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer (MLCT) state of [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](+), where dmp is 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, in acetonitrile have been investigated by time-domain pump-probe X-ray absorption spectroscopy, femtosecond optical transient spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT). The time resolution for the excited state structural determination was 100 ps, provided by single X-ray pulses from a third generation synchrotron source. The copper ion in the thermally equilibrated MLCT state has the same oxidation state as the corresponding copper(II) complex in the ground state and was found to be penta-coordinate with an average nearest neighbor Cu-N distance 0.04 A shorter than that of the ground state [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](+). The results confirm the previously proposed "exciplex" structure of the MLCT state in Lewis basic solvents. The evolution from the photoexcited Franck-Condon MLCT state to the thermally equilibrated MLCT state was followed by femtosecond optical transient spectroscopy, revealing three time constants of 500-700 fs, 10-20 ps, and 1.6-1.7 ns, likely related to the kinetics for the formation of the triplet MLCT state, structural relaxation, and the MLCT excited-state decay to the ground state, respectively. DFT calculations are used to interpret the spectral shift on structural relaxation and to predict the geometries of the ground state, the tetracoordinate excited state, and the exciplex. The DFT calculations also indicate that the amount of charge transferred from copper to the dmp ligand upon photoexcitation is similar to the charge difference at the copper center between the ground-state copper(I) and copper(II) complexes.     

Excited-state dynamics of fac-[ReI(L)(CO)3(phen)]+ and fac-[ReI(L)(CO)3(5-NO2-phen)]+ (L = imidazole, 4-ethylpyridine; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) complexes

The nature and dynamics of the lowest excited states of fac-[Re(I)(L)(CO)(3)(phen)](+) and fac-[Re(I)(L)(CO)(3)(5-NO(2)-phen)](+) [L = Cl(-), 4-ethyl-pyridine (4-Etpy), imidazole (imH); phen = 1,10-phenanthroline] have been investigated by picosecond visible and IR transient absorption spectroscopy in aqueous (L = imH), acetonitrile (L = 4-Etpy, imH), and MeOH (L = imH) solutions. The phen complexes have long-lived Re(I) --> phen (3)MLCT excited states, characterized by CO stretching frequencies that are upshifted relative to their ground-state values and by widely split IR bands due to the out-of-phase A'(2) and A"nu(CO) vibrations. The lowest excited states of the 5-NO(2)-phen complexes also have (3)MLCT character; the larger upward nu(CO) shifts accord with much more extensive charge transfer from the Re(I)(CO)(3) unit to 5-NO(2)-phen in these states. Transient visible absorption spectra indicate that the excited electron is delocalized over the 5-NO(2)-phen ligand, which acquires radical anionic character. Similarly, involvement of the -NO(2) group in the Franck-Condon MLCT transition is manifested by the presence of an enhanced nu(NO(2)) band in the preresonance Raman spectrum of [Re(I)(4-Etpy)(CO)(3)(5-NO(2)-phen)](+). The Re(I) --> 5-NO(2)-phen (3)MLCT excited states are very short-lived: 7.6, 170, and 43 ps for L = Cl(-), 4-Etpy, and imH, respectively, in CH(3)CN solutions. The (3)MLCT excited state of [Re(I)(imH)(CO)(3)(5-NO(2)-phen)](+) is even shorter-lived in MeOH (15 ps) and H(2)O (1.3 ps). In addition to (3)MLCT, excitation of [Re(I)(imH)(CO)(3)(5-NO(2)-phen)](+) populates a (3)LLCT (imH --> 5-NO(2)-phen) excited state. Most of the (3)LLCT population decays to the ground state (time constants of 19 (H(2)O), 50 (MeOH), and 72 ps (CH(3)CN)); in a small fraction, however, deprotonation of the imH.+ ligand occurs, producing a long-lived species, [Re(I)(im.)(CO)(3)(5-NO(2)-phen).-]+.     

Facile oxidation-based synthesis of sterically encumbered four-coordinate bis(2,9-di-tert-butyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I) and related three-coordinate copper(I) complexes

A new oxidation-based synthetic route was developed for synthesis of Cu(I) complexes with weakly coordinating ligands, leading to the synthesis of the elusive [Cu(dtbp)2]+ (dtbp, 2,9-di-tert-butyl-1,10-phenanthroline) complex that may be useful as a sensor or as a dye for dye-sensitized solar cells. An acetone solution of either 1 or 2 equiv of dtbp was added to excess Cu(0) and 1 equiv of AgY (Y is O3SCF3-, BF4-, SbF6-, or B(C6F5)4-) in a nitrogen-filled glove box. Following filtration and evaporation under vacuum, crystallization from CH2Cl2 and hexanes results in X-ray quality crystals of Cu(dtbp)(O3SCF3) (1), Cu(dtbp)(BF4) (2), [Cu(dtbp)(acetone)][SbF6] (3), [Cu(dtbp)2][B(C6F5)4].CH2Cl2 (4.CH2Cl2), [Cu(dtbp)2][BF4].CH2Cl2 (5.CH2Cl2), and [Cu(dtbp)2][SbF6].CH2Cl2 (6.CH2Cl2). Complexes 1-6 were characterized by X-ray crystallography and NMR. The Cu atom in complexes 1-3 exhibited distorted trigonal coordination geometries, reflecting the steric effect of the bulky tert-butyl substituents. The structures of the pseudotetrahedral complexes 4, 4.CH2Cl2, 5.CH2Cl2, and 6.CH2Cl2 revealed the longest average Cu-N distances (2.11 A, 2.11 A, 2.10 A, and 2.11 A, respectively) in this class of compounds-longer by more than three standard deviations from the average.     

Monomeric, tetrameric, and polymeric copper di-tert-butyl phosphate complexes containing pyridine ancillary ligands

The reaction of di-tert-butyl phosphate (((t)BuO)(2)P(O)(OH), dtbp-H) with copper acetate in the presence of pyridine (py) and 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine (collidine) has been investigated. Copper acetate reacts with dtbp-H in a reaction medium containing pyridine, DMSO, THF, and CH(3)OH to yield a one-dimensional polymeric complex [Cu(dtbp)(2)(py)(2)(mu-OH(2))](n) (1) as blue hollow crystalline tubes. The copper atoms in 1 are octahedral and are surrounded by two terminal phosphate ligands, two pyridine molecules, and two bridging water molecules. The mu-OH(2) ligands that are present along the elongated Jahn-Teller axis are responsible for the formation of the one-dimensional polymeric structure. Recrystallization of 1 in a DMSO/THF/CH(3)OH mixture results in the reorganization of the polymer and its conversion to a more stable tetranuclear copper cluster [Cu(4)(mu(3)-OH)(2)(dtbp)(6)(py)(2)] (2) in about 60% yield. The molecular structure of 2 is made up of a tetranuclear core [Cu(4)(mu(3)-OH)(2)] which is surrounded by six bidentate bridging dtbp ligands. While two of the copper atoms are pentacoordinate with a tbp geometry, the other two copper atoms exhibit a pseudooctahedral geometry with five normal Cu-O bonds and an elongated Cu-O linkage. The pentacoordinate copper centers bear an axial pyridine ligand. The short Cu.Cu nonbonded distances in the tetranuclear core of 2 lead to magnetic ordering at low temperature with an antiferromagnetic coupling at approximately 20 K (J(P) = -44 cm(-1), J(c) = -66 cm(-1), g = 2.25, and rho = 0.8%). When the reaction between di-tert-butyl phosphate (dtbp-H) and copper acetate was carried out in the presence of collidine, large dark-blue crystals of monomeric copper complex [Cu(dtbp)(2)(collidine)(2)] (3) formed as the only product. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of 3 reveals a slightly distorted square-planar geometry around the copper atom. Thermogravimetric analysis of 1-3 revealed a facile decomposition of the coordinated ligands and dtbp to produce a copper phosphate material around 500 degrees C. An independent solid-state thermolysis of all the three complexes in bulk at 500-510 degrees C for 2 days produced copper pyrophosphate Cu(2)P(2)O(7) along with small quantities of Cu(PO(3))(2) as revealed by DR-UV spectroscopic and PXRD studies.     

Ultrafast photochemical dissociation of an equatorial CO ligand from trans(X,X)-[Ru(X)2(CO)2(bpy)] (X = Cl, Br, I): a picosecond time-resolved infrared spectroscopic and DFT computational study

Ultrafast photochemistry of the complexes trans(X,X)-[Ru(X)(2)(CO)(2)(bpy)] (X = Cl, Br, I) was studied in order to understand excited-state reactivity of equatorial CO ligands, coordinated trans to the 2,2'-bipyridine ligand (bpy). TD-DFT calculations have identified the lowest electronic transitions and singlet excited states as mixed X -->bpy/Ru --> bpy ligand to ligand/metal to ligand charge transfer (LLCT/MLCT). Picosecond time-resolved IR spectroscopy in the region of nu(CO) vibrations has revealed that, for X = Cl and Br, subpicosecond CO dissociation is accompanied by bending of the X-Ru-X moiety, producing a pentacoordinated intermediate trans(X,X)-[Ru(X)(2)(CO)(bpy)]. Final movement of an axial halide ligand to the vacant equatorial position and solvent (CH(3)CN) coordination follows with a time constant of 13-15 ps, forming the photoproduct cis(X,X)-[Ru(X)(2)(CO)(CH(3)CN)(bpy)]. For X = I, the optically populated (1)LLCT/MLCT excited state undergoes a simultaneous subpicosecond CO dissociation and relaxation to a triplet IRuI-localized excited state which involves population of an orbital that is sigma-antibonding with respect to the axial I-Ru-I bonds. Vibrationally relaxed photoproduct cis(I,I)-[Ru(I)(2)(CO)(CH(3)CN)(bpy)] is formed with a time constant of ca. 55 ps. The triplet excited state is unreactive, decaying to the ground state with a 155 ps lifetime. The experimentally observed photochemical intermediates and excited states were assigned by comparing calculated (DFT) and experimental IR spectra. The different behavior of the chloro and bromo complexes from that of the iodo complex is caused by different characters of the lowest triplet excited states.     

Syntheses,crystal structures,and physical properties of dinuclear copper(I) and tetranuclear mixed-valence copper(I,II) complexes with hydroxylated bipyridyl-like ligands

Four copper complexes with hydroxylated bipyridyl-like ligands, namely [Cu(2)(ophen)(2)] (1), [Cu(4)(ophen)(4)(tp)] (2), [Cu(4)(obpy)(4)(tp)] (3), and [Cu(4)(obpy)(4)(dpdc)].2H(2)O (4), (Hophen=2-hydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline, Hobpy=6-hydroxy-2,2'-bipyridine, tp=terephthalate, dpdc=diphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate) have been synthesized hydrothermally. X-ray single-crystal structural analyses of these complexes reveal that 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) or 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) ligands are hydroxylated into ophen or obpy during the reaction, which provides structural evidence for the long-time argued Gillard mechanism. The dinuclear copper(I) complex 1 has three supramolecular isomers in the solid state, in which short copper-copper distances (2.66-2.68 A) indicate weak metal-metal bonding interactions. Each of the mixed-valence copper(i,ii) complexes 2-4 consists of a pair of [Cu(2)(ophen)(2)](+) or [Cu(2)(obpy)(2)](+) fragments bridged by a dicarboxylate ligand into a neutral tetranuclear dumbbell structure. Dinuclear 1 is an intermediate in the formation of 2 and can be converted into 2 in the presence of additional copper(II) salt and tp ligands under hydrothermal conditions. In addition to the ophen-centered pi-->pi* excited-state emission, 1 shows strong emissions at ambient temperature, which may be tentatively assigned as an admixture of copper-centered d-->s,p and MLCT excited states.     

The phenoxy/phenol/copper cation: a minimalistic model of bonding relations in active centers of mononuclear copper enzymes

The "bare" complex [Cu(PhOH)(PhO)](+) with a phenol (PhOH) and a phenoxy (PhO) ligand bound to copper is studied both experimentally and computationally. The binding energies and structure of this complex are probed by mass spectrometry, infrared multi-photon dissociation, and DFT calculations. Further, the monoligated complexes [Cu(PhO)](+) and [Cu(PhOH)](+) are investigated for comparison. DFT calculations on the [Cu(PhOH)(PhO)](+) complex predict that a phenolate anion interacts with copper(II) preferentially through the oxygen atom, and the bonding is associated with electron transfer to the metal center resulting in location of the unpaired electron at the aromatic moiety. Neutral phenol, on the other hand, interacts with copper preferentially through the aromatic ring. The same arrangements are also found in the monoligated complexes [Cu(PhO)](+) and [Cu(PhOH)](+). The calculations further indicate that the bond strength between the copper atom and the oxygen atom of the phenoxy radical is weakened by the presence of neutral phenol from 2.6 eV in bare [Cu(PhO)](+) to 2.1 eV in [Cu(PhOH)(PhO)](+).     

Highly luminescent Cu(I)-phenanthroline complexes in rigid matrix and temperature dependence of the photophysical properties.

We synthesized new [Cu(NN)(2)](+)-type complexes where NN = 2-5 and denotes a 2,9-disubstituted-1,10-phenanthroline ligand (related complexes of 1 and 6 ligands are used for reference purposes). For 2, 3, and 4 the ligand substituents are long alkyl-type fragments, whereas in 5 a phenyl ring is directly attached to the chelating unit. At 298 K the four complexes display relatively intense metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer (MLCT) emission bands with maxima around 720 nm, Phi(em) approximately 1 x 10(-)(3) and tau > 100 ns in deaerated CH(2)Cl(2). The emission behavior at 77 K in a CH(2)Cl(2)/MeOH matrix is quite different for complexes of alkyl- (2-4) versus phenyl-substituted (5) ligands. The former exhibit very intense emission bands centered around 642 nm and hypsochromically shifted with respect to 298 K, whereas the luminescence band of [Cu(5)(2)](+) is faint and shifted toward the infrared side. These results prompted us to study in detail the temperature dependence of luminescence properties of [Cu(2)(2)](+) and [Cu(5)(2)](+) in the 300-96 K range. For both complexes the excited state lifetimes increase monotonically by decreasing temperatures, and the trend is well described by an Arrhenius-type treatment involving two equilibrated MLCT excited levels. The emission bands show a similar behavior for the two compounds (intensity decrease and red-shift) only in the 300-120 K range, when the solvent is fluid. In the frozen regime (T 相似文献   

Structural changes upon photoexcitation into the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer state of [Cu(pqx)(PPh3)2]+ probed by resonance Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory

The structural changes that occur when [Cu(pqx)(PPh(3))(2)](+) (pqx is 2-(2'-pyridyl)quinoxaline) undergoes excitation through a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transition are investigated using resonance Raman excitation profiles coupled with density functional theory (DFT). The DFT calculations predict bond lengths to within 3 pm and absolute deviations of 7 cm(-1) for the vibrational frequencies of [Cu(pqx)(PPh(3))(2)](+). TD-DFT calculations of oscillator strengths (f = 0.089) and band positions (419 nm) showed close agreement with experiment (f = 0.07, 431 nm). Resonance Raman spectra show the 527 cm(-1) (nu(29)) and 1476 cm(-1) (nu(75)) modes undergo the largest dimensionless displacement (Delta = 1.5 and 1.1, respectively) following photoexcitation into the MLCT Franck-Condon region. The solvent couples strongly to the MLCT transition and resonance Raman intensity analysis (RRIA) gives a solvent reorganization energy of 3400 cm(-1) for dichloromethane and 2800 cm(-1) for chloroform solutions. A large inner-sphere reorganization of 3430 cm(-1) in dichloromethane solution (3520 cm(-1) in chloroform solution) was found for [Cu(pqx)(PPh(3))(2)](+), indicating that the molecule as a whole undergoes significant distortion following MLCT excitation.     

Ultrafast energy migration in platinum(II) diimine complexes bearing pyrenylacetylide chromophores

The ultrafast excited-state dynamics of three structurally related platinum(II) complexes has been investigated using femtosecond transient absorption spectrometry in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF). Previous work has shown that Pt(dbbpy)(C[triple bond]C-Ph)2 (dbbpy is 4,4'-di(tert-butyl)-2,2'-bipyridine and C[triple bond]C-Ph is ethynylbenzene) has a lowest metal-to-ligand charge transfer (3MLCT) excited state, while the multichromophoric Pt(dbbpy)(C[triple bond]C-pyrene)2 (CC-pyrene is 1-ethynylpyrene) contains the MLCT state, but possesses a lowest intraligand (3IL) excited state localized on one of the CC-pyrenyl units (Pomestchenko, I. E.; Luman, C. R.; Hissler, M.; Ziessel, R.; Castellano, F. N. Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42, 1394-96). trans-Pt(PBu3)2(C[triple bond]C-pyrene)2 serves as a model system that provides a good representation of the CC-pyrene-localized 3IL state in a Pt(II) complex lacking the MLCT excited state. Following 400 nm excitation, the formation of the 3MLCT excited state in Pt(dbbpy)(C[triple bond]C-Ph)2 is complete within 200 +/- 40 fs, and intersystem crossing to the 3IL excited state in trans-Pt(PBu3)2(C[triple bond]C-pyrene)2 occurs with a time constant of 5.4 +/- 0.2 ps. Selective excitation into the low-energy MLCT bands in Pt(dbbpy)(C[triple bond]C-pyrene)2 (lambda(ex) = 480 nm) leads to the formation of the 3IL excited state in 240 +/- 40 fs, suggesting ultrafast wire-like energy migration in this molecule. The kinetic data suggest that the presence of the MLCT states in Pt(dbbpy)(C[triple bond]C-pyrene)2 markedly accelerates the formation of the triplet state of the pendant pyrenylacetylide ligand. In essence, the triplet sensitization process is kinetically faster than pure intersystem crossing in trans-Pt(PBu3)2(CC-pyrene)2 as well as vibrational relaxation in the MLCT excited state of Pt(dbbpy)(C[triple bond]C-Ph)2. These results are potentially important for the design of chromophores intended to reach their lowest excited state on subpicosecond time scales and advocate the likelihood of wire-like behavior in triplet-triplet energy transfer.     

Coordination-synchronized trans-cis photoisomerization of bipyridylazobenzene driven by a Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox change

The trans-cis photoisomerization behavior of azobenzene-bipyridine ligand (dmpAB) was synchronized with coordination of the bipyridine moiety to copper. The coordination reaction can be reversibly controlled with reversible redox reaction of copper, to afford [Cu(dmpAB)(2)](+) in Cu(I) state and free dmpAB in Cu(II) state. UV irradiations to Cu(I) and Cu(II) samples form trans-rich and cis-rich compositions, respectively. The results enable us to control the trans-cis isomerization reversibly through Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox and a single UV light.     

Tri- and tetracoordinate copper(I) complexes bearing bidentate soft/hard SN and SeN ligands based on 2-aminopyridine

The coordination properties of the EN ligands N-(2-pyridinyl)amino-diphenylphosphine sulfide, N-(2-pyridinyl)amino-diisopropylphosphine sulfide, N-(2-pyridinyl)amino-diphenylphosphine selenide, N-(2-pyridinyl)amino-diisopropylphosphine selenide towards copper(I) precursors CuX (X = Br, I), [Cu(IPr)Cl] (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), and [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]PF(6) were studied. Treatment of CuX with EN ligands resulted in the formation of tricoordinate complexes of the type [Cu(κ(2)(E,N)-EN)X]. The reaction of [Cu(IPr)Cl] with EN ligands, followed by halide abstraction with AgSbF(6), afforded cationic tricoordinate complexes [Cu(κ(2)(S,N)-EN)(IPr)](+), while the reaction of [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)](+) with two equivalents of EN ligands yielded tetrahedral complexes [Cu(κ(2)(E,N)-EN)(2)](+). Halide removal from [Cu(κ(2)(S,N)-SN)I] with silver salts in the presence of L = CH(3)CN and CNtBu afforded dinuclear complexes of the type [Cu(κ(2)(S,N),μ(S)-SN)(L)](2)(2+) containing bridging SN ligands. With the terminal alkynes HC≡CC(6)H(4)Me and HC≡CC(6)H(4)OMe, complexes of the formula [Cu(κ(2)(S,N)-SN-iPr)(η(2)-HC≡CC(6)H(4)Me)](+) and [Cu(κ(2)(S,N)-SN-iPr)(η(2)-HC≡CC(6)H(4)OMe)](+) were obtained. The mononuclear nature of these compounds was supported by DFT calculations. Most complexes were also characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Rapid excited-state structural reorganization captured by pulsed X-rays

Visible light excitation of [Cu(I)(dmp)(2)](BArF), where dmp is 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and BArF is tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethylphenyl))borate, in toluene produces a photoluminescent, metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excited state with a lifetime of 98 +/- 5 ns. Probing this state within 14 ns after photoexcitation with pulsed X-rays establishes that a Cu(II) center, borne in a Cu(I) geometry, binds an additional ligand to form a five-coordinate complex with increased bond lengths and a coordination geometry of distorted trigonal bipyramid. The average Cu-N bond length increases in the excited state by 0.07 A. The transiently formed five-coordinate MLCT state is photoluminescent under the condition studied, indicating that the absorptive and emissive states have distinct geometries. The data represent the first X-ray characterization of a molecular excited state in fluid solution on a nanosecond time scale.     

Molecular Orbital Calculation and Spectroscopic Study of the Photochemical Generation of Bis(2,2'-bipyridine)rhodium(I) from Bis(2,2'-bipyridine)(oxalato)rhodium(III)

A planar complex, [Rh(bpy)(2)](+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), was obtained from [Rh(ox)(bpy)(2)](+) (ox = oxalato) by photoirradiation. A rate constant k for the photoreaction was evaluated as 1 x 10(8) s(-1) in simple first-order kinetics, whereas a ligand dissociation, a reorganization of the coordinated bpy, and a two-electron transfer were involved in the reaction. The process of the Rh(I) complex generation was investigated in terms of a discrete variational (DV)-Xalpha molecular orbital calculation on [Rh(ox)(HN=CHCH=NH)(2)](+) instead of [Rh(ox)(bpy)(2)](+). From the calculation, using the transition-state method, it was predicted that a transition of the ox pi orbital to the metal 4d(z)()2 orbital caused the ligand dissociation and the reorganization of the coordinated bpy occurred in the ox pi to Rh 4d(x)()2(-y)2 excited state stabilized by the ox elimination. Upon release of the ligand and a change from octahedral to square-planar geometry, the electron density on the metal increased and the Rh 4d orbital acquired a d(8) electronic configuration.     

Photoluminescent copper(I) complexes with amido-triazolato ligands

A series of heteroleptic copper(I) complexes incorporating amido-triazole and diphosphine ligands, [Cu(I)(N-phenyl-2-(1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)aniline)(dppb)] (1), [Cu(I)(N-(4-methylphenyl)-2-(1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)aniline)(dppb)] (2), [Cu(I)(N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)aniline)(dppb)] (3), [Cu(I)(N-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)aniline)(dppb)] (4), [Cu(I)(2,6-dimethyl-N-[2-(1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)phenyl]aniline)(dppb)] (5), [Cu(I)(2,6-dimethyl-N-[2-(1-benzyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)phenyl]aniline)(dppb)] (6), (dppb = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene), have been prepared. The complexes adopt a distorted tetrahedral geometry in the solid state with the amido-triazole ligand forming a six-member ring with the Cu(I) ion. The complexes exhibit long-lived photoluminescence with colors ranging from yellow to red-orange in the solid state, in frozen glass at 77 K, and in fluid solution with modest quantum yields of up to 0.022. Electrochemically, complexes 1-4 show irreversible oxidation waves while 5 and 6 are characterized by quasi-reversible oxidations as determined by cyclic voltammetry. For 1-4, the emission energy and oxidation potential are found to vary linearly with the Hammett parameter σ(p) of the substituent in the para position of the amido ligand, while in 5 and 6, large differences in emission are observed because of the nature of N3 substitution in the triazole ring. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on the singlet ground states (S(o)) of all complexes at the BP86/6-31G(d) level to assist in assignment of the excited states. On the basis of both experimental and computational results, we have assigned the excited states as intraligand + metal-to-ligand charge transfer (3)(ILCT+MLCT) or ligand-to-ligand charge transfer mixed with MLCT (3)(MLCT +LLCT) in these complexes.     

Rhenium-to-benzoylpyridine and rhenium-to-bipyridine MLCT excited states of fac-[Re(Cl)(4-benzoylpyridine)(2)(CO)(3)] and fac-[Re(4-benzoylpyridine)(CO)(3)(bpy)](+): a time-resolved spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical study

The lowest allowed electronic transition of fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)(3)(bopy)(2)] (bopy = 4-benzoylpyridine) has a Re --> bopy MLCT character, as revealed by UV-vis and stationary resonance Raman spectroscopy. Accordingly, the lowest-lying, long-lived, excited state is Re --> bopy (3)MLCT. Electronic depopulation of the Re(CO)(3) unit and population of a bopy pi orbital upon excitation are evident by the upward shift of nu(CO) vibrations and a downward shift of the ketone nu(C=O) vibration, respectively, seen in picosecond time-resolved IR spectra. Moreover, reduction of a single bopy ligand in the (3)MLCT excited state is indicated by time-resolved visible and resonance Raman (TR(3)) spectra that show features typical of bopy(*)(-). In contrast, the lowest allowed electronic transition and lowest-lying excited state of a new complex fac-[Re(bopy)(CO)(3)(bpy)](+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) have been identified as Re --> bpy MLCT with no involvement of the bopy ligand, despite the fact that the first reduction of this complex is bopy-localized, as was proven spectroelectrochemically. This is a rare case in which the localizations of the lowest MLCT excitation and the first reduction are different. (3)MLCT excited states of both fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)(3)(bopy)(2)] and fac-[Re(bopy)(CO)(3)(bpy)](+) are initially formed vibrationally hot. Their relaxation is manifested by picosecond dynamic shifts of nu(C(triple bond)O) IR bands. The X-ray structure of fac-[Re(bopy)(CO)(3)(bpy)]PF(6).CH(3)CN has been determined.     

Photoexcitation in Cu(I) and Re(I) complexes containing substituted dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine: a spectroscopic and density functional theoretical study

Copper(I) and rhenium(I) complexes [Cu(PPh(3))(2)(dppz-11-COOEt)]BF(4), [Cu(PPh(3))(2)(dppz-11-Br)]BF(4), [Re(CO)(3)Cl(dppz-11-COOEt)] and [Re(CO)(3)Cl(dppz-11-Br)] (dppz-11-COOEt = dipyrido-[3,2a:2',3'c]phenazine-11-carboxylic ethyl ester, dppz-11-Br = 11-bromo-dipyrido[3,2a:2',3'c]-phenazine) have been studied using Raman, resonance Raman, and transient resonance Raman (TR(2)) spectroscopy, in conjunction with computational chemistry. DFT (B3LYP) frequency calculations with a 6-31G(d) basis set for the ligands and copper(I) centers and an effective core potential (LANL2DZ) for rhenium in the rhenium(I) complexes show close agreement with the experimental nonresonance Raman spectra. Modes that are phenazine-based, phenanthroline-based, and delocalized across the entire ligand structure were identified. The nature of the absorbing chromophores at 356 nm for ligands and complexes was established using resonance Raman spectroscopy in concert with vibrational assignments from calculations. This analysis reveals that the dominant chromophore for the complexes measured at 356 nm is ligand-centered (LC), except for [Re(CO)(3)Cl(dppz-11-Br)], which appears to have additional chromophores at this wavelength. Calculations on the reduced complexes, undertaken to model the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited state, show that the reducing electron occupies a ligand MO that is delocalized across the ligand structure. Resonance Raman spectra (lambda(exc) = 514.5 nm) of the reduced rhenium complexes show a similar spectral pattern to that observed in [Re(CO)(3)Cl(dppz)](*-); the measured bands are therefore attributed to ligand radical anion modes. These bands lie at 1583-1593 cm(-1) for [Re(CO)(3)Cl(dppz-11-COOEt)] and 1611 cm(-1) for [Re(CO)(3)Cl(dppz-11-Br)]. The thermally equilibrated excited states are examined using nanosecond-TR(2) spectroscopy (lambda(exc) = 354.7 nm). The TR(2) spectra of the ligands provide spectral signatures for the (3)LC state. A band at 1382 cm(-1) is identified as a marker for the (3)LC states of both ligands. TR(2) spectra of the copper and rhenium complexes of dppz-11-Br show this (3)LC band, but it is not prominent in the spectra of [Cu(PPh(3))(2)(dppz-11-COOEt)](+) and [Re(CO)(3)Cl(dppz-11-COOEt)]. Calculations suggest that the lowest triplet states of both of the rhenium(I) complexes and [Cu(PPh(3))(2)(dppz-11-Br)](+) are metal-to-ligand charge transfer in nature, but the lowest triplet state of [Cu(PPh(3))(2)(dppz-11-COOEt)](+) appears to be LC in character.     

Influence of second coordination sphere hydroxyl groups on the reactivity of copper(I) complexes

We report the enhanced reactivity of hydroxyl substituted CuN(3)(+) derivatives, where N(3) = tris(picolinyl)methane (tripic) and related derivatives, upon deprotonation of the O-H functionality. The work capitalizes on new methodology for incorporating hydroxyl groups into the second coordination sphere of copper centers. The key synthetic methodology relies on Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions of dilithiated 6-methyl-2-pyridone with bromopyridyl derivatives. These building blocks allow the preparation of tridentate N(3) ligands with OH and OMe substituents flanking the fourth coordination site of a tetrahedral complex. Coupling of these tridendate ligands gives the corresponding hydroxy- and methoxy-functionalized bistripodal ligands. [Cu[bis(2-methylpyrid-6-yl)(2-hydroxypyrid-6-yl)methane](NCMe)](+) ([Cu(2H)(NCMe)](+)) oxidizes readily in air to afford the mixed valence Cu(1.5) dimer ([Cu(2)(2)(2)](+)). Formation of [Cu(2)(2)(2)](+) is accelerated in the presence of base and can be reversed with a combination of decamethylferrocene and acid. The reactivity of [Cu(2H)(NCMe)](+) with dioxygen requires deprotonation of the hydroxyl substituent: neither [Cu(tripic)(NCMe)](+) nor the methoxy-derivatives displayed comparable reactivity. A related mixed valence dimer formed upon oxidation of the dicopper(I) complex of a tetrahydroxy bis(tridentate) ligand, [Cu(2)(6H(4))(NCMe)(2)](2+). The dicopper(I) complex of the analogous tetramethoxy N(6)-ligand, [Cu(2)(5)(NCMe)(2)](2+), instead reversibly binds O(2). Deprotonation of [Cu(2H)(CO)](+) and [Cu(2H)(NCMe)](+) afforded the neutral derivatives Cu(2)(CO) and Cu(2)(2)(2), respectively. The dicopper(I) derivative Cu(2)(2)(2) can be reoxidized, reprotonated, and carbonylated. The silver(I) complex, [Ag(2H)(NCMe)]BF(4), forms an analogous neutral dimer (Ag(2)(2)(2)) upon deprotonation of the hydroxyl group. The structures of ligand 2H, [Cu(2)(5)(NCMe)(2)](+), [Cu(2)(2)(2)](+), [Cu(2)(6H(2))](+), [Ag(2H)(NCMe)]BF(4), and Ag(2)(2)(2) were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction.