Photochemical behavior of azobenzene-conjugated CoII, CoIII, and FeII bis(terpyridine) complexes

Azobenzene-conjugated mononuclear and dinuclear terpyridyl complexes of Co(II), Co(III), and Fe(II) were synthesized, and their photoisomerization behavior was investigated. Co(II) and Co(III) complexes, tpyCo(tpy-AB)]X(n) and (Cotpy)(2)(tpy-AB-tpy)]X(n) (tpy-AB = C(15)N(3)H(10)-C(6)H(4)-N=NC(6)H(5), tpy-AB-tpy = C(15)N(3)H(10)-C(6)H(4)-N=NC(6)H(4)-C(15)N(3)H(10), X = PF(6) or BPh(4)), exhibit trans-to-cis photoisomerization by irradiation at 366 nm, and this behavior is dependent on solvents and counterions. For the Co(II) complexes, BPh(4) salts undergo cis-to-trans isomerization in propylene carbonate by both photoirradiation with visible light (435 nm) and heat, indicating that reversible trans-cis isomerization has occurred. Co(tpy-AB)(2)](BPh(4))(2) shows a two-step trans-to-cis isomerization process. The trans-cis isomerization behavior of Co(III) complexes was observed only in the solvents with a low donor number such as 1,2-dichloroethane. Fe(II) complexes, tpyFe(tpy-AB)]X(n) (X = PF(6) or BPh(4)), exhibit slight trans-to-cis photoisomerization due to the energy transfer from the azobenzene moiety to Fe(tpy)(2) moieties.