Optical and electrochemical properties of cyclometalated Rh(III) complexes based on 4,6-diphenylpyrimidine with ethylenediamine, 2,2′-bipyridyl,and 1,10-phenanthroline

The Rh(Hdp)₂(N∧N)]ClO₄ complexes (Hdp⁻ is the monodeprotonated form of 4,6-diphenylpyrimidine and (N∧N) is ethylenediamine, 2,2′-bipyridyl, and 1,10-phenanthroline) are synthesized and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR, electronic absorption, and emission spectroscopy, as well as by cyclic voltammetry. The magnetic equivalence of two cyclometalated 4,6-diphenylpyrimidine ligands in the composition of complexes points to the cis position of metalated phenyl rings in the inner sphere. Quasi-reversible one-electron reduction waves are attributed to the ligand-centered electron transfer to the π* antibonding orbital of heterocyclic ligands, while irreversible oxidation waves are associated with electron detachment from the Rh-C σ bonding orbital of the {Rh(Hdp)₂} metal-complex fragment. The characteristic long-wave-length absorption bands and the vibrationally structured phosphorescence bands of complexes are assigned to the spin-allowed and spin-forbidden charge-transfer optical transitions between the σ_Rh-C and π_Hdp* orbitals localized on the {Rh(Hdp)₂} fragment of the complex.