Charge-transfer luminescence from ruthenium(II) complexes containing tridentate ligands

Four complexes of the general formula Ru(NNN)²⁺₂ (N NN = tridentate N-heterocyclic ligand) were synthesized and studied spectroscopically. All exhibit visible absorption spectra that are charge-transfer-to-ligand in origin, are luminescent in glasses at 77 K, and display emission spectra that possess energies, structures, and decay tines that label them as charge transfer.