Terpyridine Metal Complexes as Building Blocks for Supramolecular Assemblies and Polymers: Thermal Stabilities and Thin Film Preparation

5,5'-Dimethyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine complexes with various transition metal ions like Zn(II), Co(II), Mn(II) and Hg(II) were investigated concerning their thermal properties. A significant dependency of the thermal stability (5% weight loss) of the complexes depending on the kind of metal ion used could be observed ranging from 315 to 390 °C. Furthermore, self-assembled thin films of such metallo-supramolecular Hg(II) complexes were prepared and characterized by synchrotron based X-ray reflectivity and fluorescence techniques.