Structural and photophysical studies of Cu(NN)2+ systems in the solid state. Emission at last from complexes with simple 1,10-phenanthroline ligands

For a variety of reasons, relating the photophysical properties of a copper phenanthroline to a structure in solution is problematic. To elucidate some of the issues involved, in this paper we describe the crystal and molecular structures of a series of Cu(NN)2(+)-containing systems along with spectral data obtained from the solids themselves. The NN ligands investigated are tmp (3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline), dpdmp (2,9-diphenyl-4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline), dptmp (2,9-diphenyl-3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline), and dipp (2,9-diisopropyl-1,10-phenanthroline). The results show that a flattening distortion can have a large impact on the spectroscopic properties of a Cu(NN)2+ system, whereas a typical rocking distortion has comparatively little effect. The reflectance spectra of orange or orange-red salts that have approximately perpendicular phenanthroline ligands exhibit absorption bands in the neighborhood of 460 nm along with a shoulder at longer wavelength. In the other limit, when a pronounced flattening distortion occurs and the dihedral angle between ligands is 20 degrees or more off perpendicular, the reflectance spectrum exhibits two distinct visible bands with intense absorption occurring at 525 nm or even longer wavelength. If the phenanthroline ligand lacks bulky substituents in the 2,9 positions, the compound may even be purple, depending on the counterion. Cu(NN)2+ complexes that contain phenyl substituents in the 2,9 positions and exhibit long-wavelength absorption in solution probably adopt a flattened structure in the ground electronic state. In most other systems ground-state flattening is a solid-state effect induced by lattice forces. However, a flattening distortion is an intrinsic attribute of the emissive excited state, although intra- or intermolecular forces can inhibit the effect. In the case of the Cu(dptmp)2+ system, intramolecular steric interactions oppose flattening because the methyl groups in the 3,8 positions control the torsion angles of the neighboring phenyl groups. In the case of [Cu(tmp)2]BPh4, packing interactions induce a small flattening in the crystal, but they also constrain the degree of distortion that can occur in the excited state. As a consequence [Cu(tmp)2]BPh4 exhibits a weak photoluminescence in the solid phase (tau = 15 ns). This is the first report of emission from a bis(phenanthroline)copper(I) system that does not have bulky substituents in the 2 and/or 9 positions of the ligand. The [Cu(tmp)2]BPh4 system crystallizes in space group P2(1)/n with a = 17.4883(4) A, b = 9.86860(10) A, c = 26.3747(6) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 97.7021(8) degrees, gamma = 90 degrees, V = 4510.8(3) A3, and Z = 4. For 12,948 unique data with Fo2 > 2 sigma(Fo2), R = 6.5%. The [Cu(dpdmp)2]PF6 system crystallizes in space group P2/n with a = 16.0722(13) A, b = 8.1100(7) A, c = 16.8937(10) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 93.947(5) degrees, gamma = 90 degrees, V = 2196.8(5) A3, and Z = 2. For 2833 unique data with Fo2 > 2 sigma(Fo2), R = 6.0%. The [Cu(dptmp)2]PF6.THF system crystallizes in space group P1 with a = 12.8486(4) A, b = 13.7341(1) A, c = 15.1678(3) A, alpha = 99.5819(14) degrees, beta = 96.7263(13) degrees, gamma = 97.3311(12) degrees, V = 2591.3(2) A3, and Z = 2. For 13,753 unique data with Fo2 > 2 sigma(Fo2), R = 7.4%. Finally, the [Cu(dipp)2]TFPB system crystallizes in space group P1 with a = 14.2523(3) A, b = 16.0496(4) A, c = 17.5801(3) A, alpha = 112.4150(13) degrees, beta = 105.7480(13) degrees, gamma = 99.6078(11) degrees, V = 3408.7(3) A3, and Z = 2. For 8774 unique data with Fo2 > 2 sigma(Fo2), R = 9.3%.     

A luminescent Pt(II) complex with a terpyridine-like ligand involving a six-membered chelate ring

The ligand 2-(8'-quinolinyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (1) was prepared in 79% yield by the Friedlander condensation of 8-amino-7-quinolinecarbaldehyde and 8-acetylquinoline. The complex [Pt(1)Cl]+ was prepared and compared with the isomeric 2-(2'-quinolinyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (2) complex. An X-ray analysis indicated that the six-membered chelate ring in the tridentate complex resulted in a relief of angle strain as well as some non-planarity in the bound ligand 1. The control system for photophysical studies is [Pt3Cl]+ where denotes 2-(2'-pyridyl)-1,10-phenanthroline. Relative to the complex of 3, in dichloromethane solution [Pt(1)Cl]+ exhibits noticeably higher energy charge-transfer absorption but slightly lower energy emission. The gap between the onset of absorption and emission is larger because the emission from [Pt(1)Cl]+ originates from a triplet excited state with substantial intra-ligand character. At room temperature in deoxygenated dichloromethane, [Pt(1)Cl]+ has an excited-state lifetime of 310 ns vs. 230 ns for [Pt(1)Cl]+. Within the series, [Pt(1)Cl]+ also exhibits the largest activation barrier for thermally induced quenching at 2730 cm(-1) in fluid dichloromethane solution. However, the barrier is only about 50% larger than that found for [Pt(1)Cl]+. There is reduced ring strain in [Pt(1)Cl]+, but inter-ligand steric interactions weaken the ligand field.     

Long-lived emissions from 4'-substituted Pt(trpy)Cl+ complexes bearing aryl groups. Influence of orbital parentage

Pt(trpy)Cl+, where trpy denotes 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, is a versatile binding agent but has a limited photochemistry due to a short excited-state lifetime. However, this work shows that the introduction of aryl substituents at the 4' position of the trpy ligand drastically alters the picture. For the substituents phenyl, p-methoxyphenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 9-phenanthrenyl, and 1-pyrenyl, the ligand abbrevations are 4'-Ph-T, 4'-pMeOPh-T, 4'-Npl-T, 4'-Np2-T, 4'-Phe9-T, and 4'-Pyre1-T, respectively. Techniques utilized include electrochemistry as well as absorption and emission spectroscopies. While the lowest energy excited states of Pt(4'-Ph-T)Cl+ and the parent complex Pt(trpy)Cl+ exhibit mainly metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) character, the emitting state takes on aryl-to-trpy intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) character as the substituents become more electron-donating. Studies of Zn(trpy)Cl2, its aryl-substituted analogues, and the free ligands themselves provide information about the relative energies of participating ILCT and intraligand 3pi-pi excited states. Even though the emission energy decreases when larger aryl groups are present, the emission lifetime increases all the way from 85 ns for Pt(4'-Ph-T)Cl+ to 64 micros for Pt(4'-Pyre1-T)Cl+. (Data from deoxygenated, room-temperature dichloromethane solution.) Intraligand character appears to dominate in the case of Pt(4'-Pyre1-T)Cl+, which is unique in the series in that it exhibits singlet and triplet emissions in solution. In aerated solution the complex shows prompt as well as delayed fluorescence. Finally, studies in donor media establish that the introduction of intraligand character inhibits solvent-induced exciplex quenching.     

ROOM-TEMPERATURE PHOSPHORESCENCE FROM AZURIN DERIVATIVES. PHOSPHORESCENCE QUENCHING IN OXIDIZED NATIVE AZURIN

The tryptophan phosphorescence from a series of derivatives of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin has been monitored at 30 degrees C in pH 8.5 buffer solution. The phosphorescence lifetimes fall in the range of 230-270 ms for deoxygenated solutions of derivatives containing Cd(II), Cu(I), Co(II), Ni(II), Hg(II) or apoazurin. A weak signal with a lifetime of ca 130 ms is observed from solutions of oxidized native azurin, but this component is ascribed to a modified form of azurin in solution, i.e. protein heterogeneity, on the basis of the unique sensitivity to quenching by dioxygen. Aside from this minor component, the tryptophan phosphorescence in the Cu(II) protein appears to be fully quenched. The quenching is assigned an electron-transfer mechanism involving transient reduction of the metal center. The same mechanism is deemed to be responsible for fluorescence quenching in oxidized native azurin as well. These observations are of interest because aromatic groups like tryptophan may be conduits for physiological electron-transfer processes involving the copper center.     

DNA-binding and physical studies of Pt(4'-NR2-trpy)CN+ systems (trpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine)

This paper focuses on DNA-binding interactions exhibited by Pt(dma-T)CN(+), where dma-T denotes 4'-dimethylamino-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine, and includes complementary studies of the corresponding pyrr-T complex, where pyrr-T denotes 4'-(N-pyrrolidinyl)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine. The chromophores are useful for understanding the interesting and rather intricate DNA-binding interactions exhibited by these and related systems. One reason is that the terpyridine ligands employed provide intense visible absorption and enhanced photoluminescence signals. Incorporating cyanide as a coligand further aids analysis by suppressing covalent binding. Physical methods utilized include X-ray crystallography for structures of the individual inorganic complexes. Viscometry as well as spectral studies of the absorbance, emission, and circular dichroism (CD) yield information about interactions with a variety of DNA hosts. Although there is no sign of covalent binding under the conditions used, most hosts exhibit two phases of uptake. Under conditions of high loading (low base-pair-to-platinum ratios), the dma-T complex preferentially binds externally and aggregates on the surface of the host, except for the comparatively rigid host [poly(dG-dC)]2. Characteristic signs of the aggregated form include a bisignate CD signal in the charge-transfer region of the spectrum and strongly bathochromically shifted emission. When excess DNA is present, however, the complex shifts to intercalative binding, preferentially next to G[triple bond]C base pairs if available. Once the complex internalizes into DNA it becomes virtually immune to quenching by O2 or solvent, and the emission lifetime extends to 11 micros when [poly(dI-dC)]2 is the host. On the other hand, the host itself becomes a potent quenching agent when G[triple bond]C base pairs are present because of the reducing strength of guanine residues.