Luminescent Cyclometalated Diimine Platinum(II) Complexes: Photophysical Studies and Applications

Singlet oxygen generation by cyclometalated complexes and applications

While cyclometalated complexes have been extensively studied for optoelectronic applications, these compounds also represent a relatively new class of photosensitizers for the production of singlet oxygen. Thus far, singlet oxygen generation from cyclometalated Ir and Pt complexes has been studied in detail. In this review, photophysical data for singlet oxygen generation from these complexes are presented, and the mechanism of (1) O2 generation is discussed, including evidence for singlet oxygen generation via an electron-transfer mechanism for some of cyclometalated Ir complexes. The period from the first report of singlet oxygen generation by a cyclometalated Ir complex in 2002 through August 2013 is covered in this review. This new class of singlet oxygen photosensitizers may prove to be rather versatile due to the ease of substitution of ancillary ligands without loss of activity. Several cyclometalated complexes have been tethered to zeolites, polystyrene, or quantum dots. Applications for photooxygenation of organic molecules, including "traditional" singlet oxygen reactions (ene reaction, [4 + 2] and [2 + 2] cycloadditions) as well as oxidative coupling of amines are presented. Potential biomedical applications are also reviewed.

A dual-emitting Cu6–Cu2–Cu6 cluster as a self-calibrated, wide-range luminescent molecular thermometer

The union of two red-emitting cage-like clusters, Cu₆Pz₆ (Pz = pyrazolate), joined by a blue-emitting Cu₂I₂ cluster, allows internally referenced temperature sensing within a wide range (120–450 K).

An unprecedented cyclometallated platinum(ii) complex incorporating a phosphinine co-ligand: synthesis and photoluminescence behaviour

The first luminescent platinum(ii) complex bearing phosphinine co-ligands with a long-lived emission from a phosphinine-localised triplet excited state is reported.

When self-assembly meets biology: luminescent platinum complexes for imaging applications

Self-assembled luminescent structures based on platinum complexes. A new tool for bioimaging?

Luminescent palladium(II) complexes with π-extended cyclometalated [R-C^N^N-R'] and pentafluorophenylacetylide ligands: spectroscopic, photophysical, and photochemical properties

A series of cyclometalated Pd(II) complexes that contain π-extended R-C^N^N-R' (R-C^N^N-R'=3-(6'-aryl-2'-pyridinyl)isoquinoline) and chloride/pentafluorophenylacetylide ligands have been synthesized and their photophysical and photochemical properties examined. The complexes with the chloride ligand are emissive only in the solid state and in glassy solutions at 77 K, whereas the ones with the pentafluorophenylacetylide ligand show phosphorescence in the solid state (λmax =584-632 nm) and in solution (λmax =533-602 nm) at room temperature. Some of the complexes with the pentafluorophenylacetylide ligand show emission with λmax at 585-602 nm upon an increase in the complex concentration in solutions. These Pd(II) complexes can act as photosensitizers for the light-induced aerobic oxidation of amines. In the presence of 0.1 mol% Pd(II) complex, secondary amines can be oxidized to the corresponding imines with substrate conversions and product yields up to 100 and 99%, respectively. In the presence of 0.15 mol% Pd(II) complex, the oxidative cyanation of tertiary amines could be performed with product yields up to 91%. The Pd(II) complexes have also been used to sensitize photochemical hydrogen production with a three-component system that comprises the Pd(II) complex, [Co(dmgH)2 (py)Cl] (dmgH=dimethylglyoxime; py=pyridine), and triethanolamine, and a maximum turnover of hydrogen production of 175 in 4 h was achieved. The excited-state electron-transfer properties of the Pd(II) complexes have been examined.

Synthesis and characterization of luminescent cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes of 1,3-bis-hetero-azolylbenzenes with tunable color for applications in organic light-emitting devices through extension of π conjugation by variation of the heteroatom

A series of luminescent cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes of N^C^N ligands [N^C^N=2,6-bis(benzoxazol-2'-yl)benzene (bzoxb), 2,6-bis(benzothiazol-2'-yl)benzene (bzthb), and 2,6-bis(N-alkylnaphthoimidazol-2'-yl)benzene (naphimb)] has been synthesized and characterized. Two of the platinum(II) complexes have been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Their electrochemical, electronic absorption, and luminescence properties have been investigated. In dichloromethane solution at room temperature, the cyclometalated N^C^N platinum(II) complexes exhibited rich luminescence with well-resolved vibronic-structured emission bands. The emission energies of the complexes are found to be closely related to the electronic properties of the N^C^N ligands. By varying the electronic properties of the cyclometalated ligands, a fine-tuning of the emission energies can be achieved, as supported by computational studies. Multilayer organic light-emitting devices have been prepared by utilizing two of these platinum(II) complexes as phosphorescent dopants, in which a saturated yellow emission with Commission International de I'Eclairage coordinates of (0.50, 0.49) was achieved.

Robust phosphorescent platinum(II) complexes with tetradentate O^N^C^N ligands: high efficiency OLEDs with excellent efficiency stability

The Pt(II) complexes (1-3) bearing tetradentate O^N^C^N ligands display high emission quantum yields (0.76-0.90) and good thermal stability (T(d) > 400 °C). Complex is an excellent green phosphorescence dopant for OLEDs with excellent efficiency and low efficiency roll-off (η(L), η(Ext)(max) = 66.7 cd A(-1), 18.2%; η(L), η(Ext) (1000 cd m(-2)) = 65.1 cd A(-1), 17.7%).

A highly efficient and selective aerobic cross-dehydrogenative-coupling reaction photocatalyzed by a platinum(II) terpyridyl complex

Thanks to the superior redox potential of platinum(II) complex compared with that of Ru(bpy)3(2+) in the excited state, an efficient and selective visible-light-induced CDC reaction has been developed by using a catalytic amount (0.25 %) of 1. With the aid of FeSO4 (2 equiv), the corresponding amide could not be detected under visible-light irradiation (λ=450 nm), but the desired cross-coupling product was exclusively obtained under ambient air conditions. A spectroscopic study and product analysis revealed that the CDC reaction is initiated by photoinduced electron-transfer from N-phenyltetrahydroisoquinoline to the complex. An EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) experiment provides direct evidence on the generation of superoxide radical anion (O2(-·)) rather than singlet oxygen ((1)O2) under irradiation of the reaction system, in contrast to that reported in the literature. Combined, the photoinduced electron-transfer and subsequent formation of superoxide radical anion (O2(-·)) results in a clean and facile transformation.

Photoluminescent DNA binding and cytotoxic activity of a platinum(II) complex bearing a tetradentate β-diketiminate ligand

A platinum(II) complex of a monoanionic, tetradentate β-diketiminate (BDI) ligand with pendant quinoline arms, BDI(QQ)H, is reported. The complex, [Pt(BDI(QQ))]Cl, is emissive in DMSO, but non-emissive in aqueous buffer. Upon binding DNA in buffer, however, a 150-fold turn-on in emission intensity occurs. Dynamic light scattering and (1)H NMR spectroscopy indicate that [Pt(BDI(QQ))]Cl forms non-emissive aggregates in aqueous solution; DNA-binding disperses the aggregates leading to the large emission turn-on response. The cytotoxic activity of the complex, measured in two cancer cell lines, is comparable to or better than that of the established anticancer drug cisplatin.

Robust phosphorescent platinum(II) complexes containing tetradentate O^N^C^N ligands: excimeric excited state and application in organic white-light-emitting diodes

The bright white lights: A series of highly robust platinum(II) complexes supported by tetradentate O N C N ligands with high emission quantum yields (0.72-0.93) and high T(d) (>400 °C) have been synthesized. Among the complexes, that shown in the figure has strong excimer emission attributed to the monomer triplet excited state with a localized structure. The application of this low band-gap material on single-dopant organic or polymer white-light-emitting diodes (WOLED) is highlighted.

Improvement in phosphorescence efficiency through tuning of coordination geometry of tridentate cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes

A series of tridentate cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes (C(∧)N*N)PtL (L = Cl or acetylide) featuring a fused five-six-membered metallacycle were synthesized. The structure of the complexes was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. In contrast to the C(∧)N(∧)N platinum complexes with a fused five-five-membered metallacycle, the platinum coordination in C(∧)N*N complexes is much closer to a square planar geometry. The photophysical properties of the complexes were studied. The geometrical change from C(∧)N(∧)N to C(∧)N*N led to a substantial improvement in phosphorescence efficiency of the complexes with an acetylide ligand in solution at room temperature. For example, the quantum yield of (C(∧)N*N)PtCCPh was measured to be 56%, demonstrating a big jump from 4% reported for (C(∧)N(∧)N)PtCCPh.