Synthesis, Photophysics, and Optical Limiting of Platinum(II) 4‘-Tolylterpyridyl Arylacetylide Complexes

Red-light-absorbing diimine Pt(II) bisacetylide complexes showing near-IR phosphorescence and long-lived 3IL excited state of Bodipy for application in triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion

Bodipy is used for the preparation of Pt(II) bisacetylide complexes which show strong absorption of visible light and long-lived triplet state. Room temperature (RT) near-IR phosphorescence of Bodipy was observed. The π-conjugation framework of visible light-harvesting Bodipy ligand was connected to the Pt(II) center by the C≡C bond. The complexes were used as triplet photosensitizers for triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) upconversion.

Triplet photosensitizers: from molecular design to applications

Triplet photosensitizers (PSs) are compounds that can be efficiently excited to the triplet excited state which subsequently act as catalysts in photochemical reactions. The name is originally derived from compounds that were used to transfer the triplet energy to other compounds that have only a small intrinsic triplet state yield. Triplet PSs are not only used for triplet energy transfer, but also for photocatalytic organic reactions, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photoinduced hydrogen production from water and triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) upconversion. A good PS should exhibit strong absorption of the excitation light, a high yield of intersystem crossing (ISC) for efficient production of the triplet state, and a long triplet lifetime to allow for the reaction with a reactant molecule. Most transition metal complexes show efficient ISC, but small molar absorption coefficients in the visible spectral region and short-lived triplet excited states, which make them unsuitable as triplet PSs. One obstacle to the development of new triplet PSs is the difficulty in predicting the ISC of chromophores, especially of organic compounds without any heavy atoms. This review article summarizes some molecular design rationales for triplet PSs, based on the molecular structural factors that facilitate ISC. The design of transition metal complexes with large molar absorption coefficients in the visible spectral region and long-lived triplet excited states is presented. A new method of using a spin converter to construct heavy atom-free organic triplet PSs is discussed, with which ISC becomes predictable, C60 being an example. To enhance the performance of triplet PSs, energy funneling based triplet PSs are proposed, which show broadband absorption in the visible region. Applications of triplet PSs in photocatalytic organic reactions, hydrogen production, triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion and luminescent oxygen sensing are briefly introduced.

High efficiency platinum acetylide nonlinear absorption chromophores covalently linked to poly(methyl methacrylate)

We report three platinum acetylide acrylate monomers containing known two-photon absorption (TPA) chromophores and their covalent incorporation into polymers via free radical polymerization with methyl methacrylate. The photophysical properties of the platinum acetylide monomers and resulting poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) copolymers were investigated to determine if the one- and two-photon photophysical properties of the chromophores were maintained in the copolymers. The photophysical properties of the series of copolymers were studied in solution and solid state with minimum shifts exhibited in the ground state absorption, photoluminescence, and triplet-triplet transient absorption spectra. The polymer films displayed markedly stronger phosphorescence and longer triplet excited state lifetimes than the polymers in solution or the monomers. The incorporation of the platinum acetylide chromophores into the PMMA copolymers allows the materials to be cast as thin films or into free-standing monoliths. Films with ~3.6 μm in thickness and monoliths with 1 mm path length were fabricated and examined. The nonlinear absorption responses of the polymers in solution were measured via the nanosecond z-scan method, and the solid state polymer monoliths were measured via nonlinear transmittance. Both measurements indicate that the polymers exhibited strong transmittance attenuation at input pulse energies exceeding 100 μJ.

Nonlinear absorbing cationic iridium(III) complexes bearing benzothiazolylfluorene motif on the bipyridine (N∧N) ligand: synthesis, photophysics and reverse saturable absorption

Four new heteroleptic cationic Ir(III) complexes bearing benzothiazolylfluorene motif on the bipyridine (N∧N) (1 and 2) and phenylpyridine (C∧N) (3 and 4) ligands are synthesized and characterized. The influence of the position of the substituent and the extent of π-conjugation on the photophysics of these complexes is systematically investigated by spectroscopic methods and simulated by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The complexes exhibit ligand-centered (1)π,π* transitions with admixtures of (1)ILCT (π(benzothiazolylfluorene) → π*(bpy)) and (1)MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) characters below 475 nm, and very weak (1,3)MLCT and (1,3)LLCT (ligand-to-ligand charge transfer) transitions above 475 nm. The emission of these complexes at room temperature in CH2Cl2 solutions is ascribed to be predominantly from the (3)MLCT/(3)LLCT states for 1 and from the (3)π,π* state for 2, while the emitting state of 3 and 4 are assigned to be an admixture of (3)MLCT, (3)LLCT, and (3)π,π* characters. The variations of the photophysical properties of 1-4 are attributed to different degrees of π-conjugation in the bipyridine and phenylpyridine ligands induced by different positions of the benzothiazolylfluorenyl substituents on the bipyridine ligand and different extents of π-conjugation in the phenylpyridine ligands, which alters the energy and lifetime of the lowest singlet and triplet excited states. 1-4 all possess broadband transient absorption (TA) upon nanosecond laser excitation, which extends from the visible to the NIR region. Therefore, 1-4 all exhibit strong reverse saturable absorption (RSA) at 532 nm for ns laser pulses. However, the TA of complexes 1, 2, and 3 are much stronger than that of 4. This feature, combined with the difference in ground-state absorption and triplet excited-state quantum yield, result in the difference in RSA strength, which follows this trend: 1 ≈ 2 ≈ 3 > 4. Therefore, complexes 1-3 are strong reverse saturable absorbers at 532 nm and could potentially be used as broadband nonlinear absorbing materials.

Extending the bandwidth of reverse saturable absorption in platinum complexes using two-photon-initiated excited-state absorption

Pt(II) complexes bearing 4-(7-(benzothiazol-2'-yl)-9,9-diethylfluoren-2-yl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine or 4-(7-(benzothiazol-2'-yl)-9,9-diethylfluoren-2-yl)ethynyl-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine ligand exhibit strong reverse saturable absorption in the visible spectral region and large two-photon initiated excited-state absorption in the near-IR region. They are promising broadband nonlinear absorbing materials from the visible to the near-IR region. The extended π-conjugation in complex 2 that has a C≡C linker between the terpyridine ligand and the 4-(7-(benzothiazol-2'-yl)-9,9-diethylfluoren-2-yl) substituent significantly increases the two-photon absorption cross sections (σ(2)), making it among the strongest of two-photon absorbing Pt(II) complexes.

Tuning photophysics and nonlinear absorption of bipyridyl platinum(II) bisstilbenylacetylide complexes by auxiliary substituents

The photophysics of six bipyridyl platinum(II) bisstilbenylacetylide complexes with different auxiliary substituents are reported. These photophysical properties have been investigated in detail by UV-vis, photoluminescence (both at room temperature and at 77 K) and transient absorption (nanosecond and femtosecond) spectroscopies, as well as by linear response time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. The photophysics of the complexes are found to be dominated by the singlet and triplet π,π* transitions localized at the stilbenylacetylide ligands with strong admixture of the metal-to-ligand (MLCT) and ligand-to-ligand (LLCT) charge-transfer characters. The interplay between the π,π* and MLCT/LLCT states depends on the electron-withdrawing or -donating properties of the substituents on the stilbenylacetylide ligands. All complexes exhibit remarkable reverse saturable absorption (RSA) at 532 nm for nanosecond laser pulses, with the complex that contains the NPh(2) substituent giving the strongest RSA and the complex with NO(2) substituent showing the weakest RSA.

Synthesis, Characterization, Crystal Structure, and Biological Studies of a Cadmium(II) Complex with a Tridentate Ligand 4'-Chloro-2,2':6',2''-Terpyridine

A new Cd(II) complex with the ligand 4′-chloro-2,2′6′,2′′-terpyridine (Cltpy), [Cd(Cltpy)(I)₂], has been synthesized and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and IR spectroscopy and structurally analyzed by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The single-crystal X-ray analyses show that the coordination number in complex is five with three terpyridine (Cltpy) N-donor atoms and two iodine atoms. The antibacterial activities of Cltpy and its Cd(II) complex are tested against different bacteria.

Self-assembly of luminescent alkynylplatinum(II) terpyridyl complexes: modulation of photophysical properties through aggregation behavior

Complexes of platinum(II) with polypyridine (that is, the multidentate ligands related to pyridine, such as bipyridine or terpyridine) have rich photophysical properties. These compounds are able to give different crystal forms in the solid state: this polymorphism is evident in the broad range of colors that can be observed in solid samples. Because of the square-planar coordination geometry of the metal center, Pt···Pt as well as π-π interactions between the chromophoric polypyridyl platinum(II) moieties are thought to contribute to the polymorphism. Owing to limited solubility, metal···metal interactions in platinum(II) polypyridyl systems had been mainly studied in the solid state, but our preparation of more soluble complexes has enabled detailed spectroscopic examinations in solution. In this Account, we describe our development of these alkynylplatinum(II) terpyridyl complexes and their unique spectral properties. A series of square-planar platinum(II) terpyridyl complexes with enhanced solubility due to the presence of the alkynyl group exhibited intense emission in solution. The lowest energy absorption and emission bands are suggested to originate from the dπ(Pt) → π*(terpy) metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) and π(C≡C-C(6)H(4)-R) → π*(terpy) ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LLCT) transitions. In addition to polymorphism and a wide range of spectral properties, these complexes also exhibit "solvatochromism" and "solvatoluminescence". They show remarkable color changes and luminescence enhancement when the diethyl ether content in a solvent mixture is varied, even as the concentration of the platinum(II) complex is held constant. The dramatic color changes and luminescence enhancement are tentatively suggested to originate from a metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MMLCT) transition: reduced solvation (caused by an increase in the fraction of diethyl ether, which is the nonsolvating component of the liquid) is thought to increase Pt···Pt and π-π stacking interactions that arise from ground-state self-assembly or aggregate formation. The absorbance and luminescence wavelengths in these solvent-induced self-assemblies are also found to be dependent on the nature of the anions. Thus, counterions play an important role in governing the degree of self-assembly and the extent of interactions within these aggregates. Several polymers carrying multiple negatively charged functional groups (under basic conditions) as well as oligonucleotides have been shown to induce the aggregation and self-assembly of the positively charged water-soluble alkynylplatinum(II) terpyridyl complexes. The driving force for the induced aggregation and self-assembly is electrostatic binding of the complex molecules to the polymer, which brings the cations into a close proximity that induces Pt···Pt and π-π interactions and gives rise to remarkable color changes and luminescence enhancement. The spectral changes are shown to be related to the properties of both the complexes and the polymers. Upon electrostatic interaction, the platinum(II) complex cations are also found to stabilize the polymers and biopolymers in a helical conformation through Pt···Pt and π-π interactions. The influence on their secondary structure is revealed by significant circular dichroism (CD) signal enhancement.

Organometallic acetylides of Pt(II), Au(I) and Hg(II) as new generation optical power limiting materials

Within the scope of nonlinear optics, optical power limiting (OPL) materials are commonly regarded as an important class of compounds which can protect the delicate optical sensors or human eyes from sudden exposure to damaging intense laser beams. Recent efforts have been devoted to developing organometallic acetylide complexes, dendrimers and polymers as high performance OPL materials of the next generation which can favorably optimize the optical limiting/transparency trade-off issue. These metallated materials offer a new avenue towards a new family of highly transparent homo- and heterometallic optical limiters with good solution processability which outperform those of current state-of-the-art visible-light-absorbing competitors such as fullerenes, metalloporphyrins and metallophthalocyanines. This critical review aims to provide a detailed account on the recent advances of these novel OPL chromophores. Their OPL activity was shown to depend strongly on the electronic characters of the aryleneethynylene ligand and transition metal moieties as well as the conjugation chain length of the compounds. Strategies including copolymerization with other transition metals, change of structural geometry, use of a dendritic platform and variation of the type and content of transition metal ions would strongly govern their photophysical behavior and improve the resulting OPL responses. Special emphasis is placed on the structure-OPL response relationships of these organometallic acetylide materials. The research endeavors for realizing practical OPL devices based on these materials have also been presented. This article concludes with perspectives on the current status of the field, as well as opportunities that lie just beyond its frontier (106 references).

Naphthalimide phosphorescence finally exposed in a platinum(II) diimine complex

Room temperature (RT) phosphorescence is observed from a naphthalimide species for the first time in the square-planar chromophore Pt(dbbpy)(C[triple bond]C-NI)(2), where NI = N-butyl-4-ethynylnaphthalimide and dbbpy = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine. The combination of static and time-resolved absorption and photoluminescence data is uniformly consistent with triplet-state photophysics localized on an appended C[triple bond]C-NI unit following excitation into the low-energy absorption bands. This molecule features rather impressive long-lifetime, high-quantum-efficiency NI-based RT phosphorescence (tau = 124 micros; Phi = 0.215) centered at 621 nm, exemplifying how the platinum acetylide linkage strongly promotes intersystem crossing in the NI subunit, representative of a class of molecules whose excited states are typically dominated by singlet fluorescence.

Excited-state absorption of a bipyridyl platinum(II) complex with alkynyl-benzothiazolylfluorene units

The singlet excited-state lifetime of a bipyridyl platinum(II) complex containing two alkynyl-benzothiazolylfluorene units was determined to be 145+/-105 ps by fitting femtosecond transient difference absorption data, and the triplet quantum yield was measured to be 0.14. A ground-state absorption cross section of 6.1 x 10(-19) cm(2) at 532 nm was deduced from UV-visible absorption data. Excited-state absorption cross sections of (6.7+/-0.1) x 10(-17) cm(2) (singlet) and (4.6+/-0.1) x 10(-16) cm(2) (triplet) were obtained by using a five-level dynamic model to fit open-aperture Z scans at picosecond and nanosecond pulse widths and a variety of pulse energies. For this complex, the ratio of the triplet excited-state absorption cross section to the ground-state absorption cross section--long used as a figure of merit for reverse saturable absorbers--thus stands at 754, to our knowledge the largest ever reported at 532 nm wavelength.