Theoretical studies on Ru(fppz)_2(CO)L (L=N-heterocyclic ligand):Electronic structure,absorption,phosphorescence,and solvatochromism

A series of ruthenium(II) complexes Ru(fppz)2(CO)L fppz = 3-trifluoromethyl-5(2-pyridyl)pyrazole; L = pyridine (1), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (2), 4-cyanopyridine (3)] were designed and investigated theo-retically to explore their electronic structures, absorption, and emissions as well as the solvatochrom-ism. The singlet ground state and triplet excited state geometries were fully optimized at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ and CIS/LANL2DZ level, respectively. The HOMO of 1-3 is composed of dyz(Ru) atom and π(fppz). The LUMO of 1 and 2 is dominantly contributed by π*(fppz) orbital, but that of 3 is con-tributed by π*(L). Absorption and phosphorescence in vacuo, C6H12, and CH3CN media were calculated using the TD-DFT level of theory with the PCM model based on the optimized ground and excited state geometries, respectively. The lowest-lying absorption of 1 and 2 at 387 and 391 nm is attributed to {dyz(Ru) π(fppz)] → π*(fppz)]} transition, but that of 3 at 479 nm is assigned to {dyz(Ru) π(fppz)] → π*(L)]} transition. The phosphorescence of 1 and 2 at 436 and 438 nm originates from 3{dyz(Ru) π(fppz)] π*(fppz)]} excited state, while that of 3 at 606 nm is from 3{dyz(Ru) π(fppz)] π*(L)]} excited state. The calculation results showed that the absorption and emission transition character can be changed from MLCT/ILCT to MLCT/LLCT transition by altering the substituent on the L ligand. The phosphorescence of 1 and 2 does not have solvatochromism, but that of 3 at 606 nm (vacuo), 584 nm (C6H12), and 541 nm (CH3CN) is strongly dependent on the solvent polarity, so introducing elec-tron-withdrawing group on ligand L will induce remarkable solvatochromism.

Theoretical studies on Ru(fppz)_2(CO)L (L=N-heterocyclic ligand):Electronic structure,absorption,phosphorescence,and solvatochromism