Copper(II) complexes of entwined 2,9-di(o-substituted phenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline type ligands and intramolecular quenching in copper(I) complexes

Cu¹¹ complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline, disubstituted at the 2 and 9 positions or monosubstituted at the 2 position by phenyl moieties possessingortho substituents, were prepared and investigated by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. The electronic spectral d-d band position varies from 14 500 to 13 200 cm⁻¹. E.s.r. g_‖ values are between 2.256 to 2.283 and A_‖ between 164 to 117×10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹. Thebis2,9-di(o-substituted phenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline]Cu¹¹ complexes undergo reversible one-electron electrochemical reduction (Cu¹¹/Cu¹) in the +0.536 to +0.825 V potential range versus s.c.e., whereas thebis2-mono(o-substituted phenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline]Cu¹¹ complexes undergo reduction in the +0.360 to +0.405 V range; the redox couple is found to be quasireversible. Emission studies on copper(I) complexes show that onlybis2,9-di(o-tolyl)-1,10-phen]Copper(I) complex exhibits emission properties. Emission behaviour of other structurally similar compounds is explored. TMC 2555