Platinum diimine complexes: towards a molecular photochemical device

Deciphering Photoinduced Catalytic Reaction Mechanisms in Natural and Artificial Photosynthetic Systems on Multiple Temporal and Spatial Scales Using X-ray Probes

Utilization of renewable energies for catalytically generating value-added chemicals is highly desirable in this era of rising energy demands and climate change impacts. Artificial photosynthetic systems or photocatalysts utilize light to convert abundant CO2, H2O, and O2 to fuels, such as carbohydrates and hydrogen, thus converting light energy to storable chemical resources. The emergence of intense X-ray pulses from synchrotrons, ultrafast X-ray pulses from X-ray free electron lasers, and table-top laser-driven sources over the past decades opens new frontiers in deciphering photoinduced catalytic reaction mechanisms on the multiple temporal and spatial scales. Operando X-ray spectroscopic methods offer a new set of electronic transitions in probing the oxidation states, coordinating geometry, and spin states of the metal catalytic center and photosensitizers with unprecedented energy and time resolution. Operando X-ray scattering methods enable previously elusive reaction steps to be characterized on different length scales and time scales. The methodological progress and their application examples collected in this review will offer a glimpse into the accomplishments and current state in deciphering reaction mechanisms for both natural and synthetic systems. Looking forward, there are still many challenges and opportunities at the frontier of catalytic research that will require further advancement of the characterization techniques.

Vapor-Induced Assembly of a Platinum(II) Complex Loaded on Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles

Controlled self-assembly of PtII complexes is key to the development of optical and stimuli-responsive materials, but designing and precisely controlling them is still difficult owing to weak intermolecular interactions. Herein, we report the successful water-vapor-induced assembly of an anionic PtII complex [Pt(CN)2 (ppy)]- (Hppy=2-phenylpyridine) electrostatically loaded onto cationically charged layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles consisting of Mg2+ and Al3+ ions. When the PtII complexes were densely loaded onto the LDH nanoparticles, the assembly was maintained, even in dilute aqueous media. In the case of sparse loading, the PtII complexes were loaded discretely in the dry state; however, when water vapor was adsorbed, the increased mobility of the PtII complexes led to their assembly on the LDH nanoparticles. The presence of water vapor led to a drastic change in luminescence from green to orange.

Competitive reversed quartet mechanisms for photogenerated ground state electron spin polarization

Photoinduced electron spin polarization (ESP) of a spin-½ organic radical (nitronyl nitroxide, NN) in a series of Pt(ii) complexes comprised of 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and 3-tert-butylcatecholate (CAT) ligands, where the CAT ligand is substituted with (CH3)n-meta-phenyl-NN (bridge-NN) groups, is presented and discussed. We show the importance of attenuating the energy gap between localized NN radical and chromophoric excited states to control both the magnitude and sign of the optically-generated ESP, and to provide deeper insight into the details of the ESP mechanism. Understanding electronic structure contributions to optically generated ESP will enhance our ability to control the nature of prepared states for a variety of quantum information science applications, where strong ESP facilitates enhanced sensitivity and readout capabilities at low applied magnetic fields and higher temperatures.

Multifunctional bisalkynylplatinum(II) bipyridine complexes with rhodamine-like ligands featuring near-infrared phosphorescence and delayed fluorescence

A series of platinum(II) bipyridine complexes with two rhodamine-like alkynyl (Rhodyne) ligands were developed to show chemo-induced "ON-OFF" switching capabilities with exceptional near-infrared phosphorescence and delayed fluorescence. This study contributes to the design of versatile photosensitizers with multiple functionalities, including metal ion and biomolecule sensing, photodynamic therapy, and optoelectronics.

Organometallic Intermediates in the Synthesis of Photoluminescent Zirconium and Hafnium Complexes with Pyridine Dipyrrolide Ligands

The two commercially available zirconium complexes tetrakis(dimethylamido)zirconium, Zr(NMe2)4, and tetrabenzylzirconium, ZrBn4, were investigated for their utility as starting materials in the synthesis of bis(pyridine dipyrrolide)zirconium photosensitizers, Zr(PDP)2. Reaction with one equivalent of the ligand precursor 2,6-bis(5-methyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)pyridine, H2MePDPPh, resulted in the isolation and structural characterization of the complexes (MePDPPh)Zr(NMe2)2thf and (MePDPPh)ZrBn2, which could be converted to the desired photosensitizer Zr(MePDPPh)2 upon addition of a second equivalent of H2MePDPPh. Using the more sterically encumbered ligand precursor 2,6-bis(5-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)pyridine, H2MesPDPPh, only ZrBn4 yielded the desired bis-ligand complex Zr(MesPDPPh)2. Careful monitoring of the reaction at different temperatures revealed the importance of the organometallic intermediate (cyclo-MesPDPPh)ZrBn, which was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and 1H NMR spectroscopy and shown to contain a cyclometalated MesPDPPh unit. Taking inspiration from the results for zirconium, syntheses for two hafnium photosensitizers, Hf(MePDPPh)2 and Hf(MesPDPPh)2, were established and shown to proceed through similar intermediates starting from tetrabenzylhafnium, HfBn4. Initial studies of the photophysical properties of the photoluminescent hafnium complexes indicate similar optical properties compared to their zirconium analogues.

Near-IR Absorbers Based on Pt(II)-Dithiolene Donor–Acceptor Charge-Transfer (CT) Systems: A Structural Analysis to Highlight DA Interactions

The packing interactions of a series of electron donor (D) and electron acceptor (A) charge transfer (CT) near-IR absorbers based on platinum-dithiolene complexes are reinvestigated here as a case study also by using the Hirshfeld surface analysis. This analysis on systems, which exhibit the 1:1, 2:1 and 2:2 columnar stacking patterns between D and A, allows us to point out that several interactions of atoms and fragments are involved in the stacking interactions but also that only a limited fraction of these interactions, limited to the 1:1 D/A columnar stacking case, can be relatable to the absorption features of this class of compounds.

Excited state processes of dinuclear Pt(II) complexes bridged by 8-hydroxyquinoline

Dinuclear d⁸ Pt(II) complexes, where two mononuclear square planar Pt(II) units are bridged in an "A-frame" geometry, possess photophysical properties characterised by either metal-to-ligand-(MLCT) or metal-metal-ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (MMLCT) transitions determined by the distance between the two Pt(II) centres. When using 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQH) as the bridging ligand to construct novel dinuclear complexes with general formula [C^NPt(μ-8HQ)]₂, where C^N is either 2-phenylpyridine (1) or 7,8-benzoquinoline (2), triplet ligand-centered (³LC) photophysics results echoing that in a mononuclear model chromophore, [Pt(8HQ)₂] (3). The lengthened Pt-Pt distances of 3.255 Å (1) and 3.243 Å (2) results in a lowest energy absorption centred around 480 nm assigned as having mixed LC/MLCT character by TD-DFT, mirroring the visible absorption spectrum of 3. Additionally, 1 and 2 exhibit ³LC photoluminescence with limited quantum yields (0.008) from broad transitions centred near 680 nm. Photoexcitation of 1-3 leads to an initially prepared excited state that relaxes within 15 ps to a ³LC excited state centred on the 8HQ bridge, which then persists for several microseconds. All the experimental results correspond well with DFT electronic structure calculations.

Dinuclear ligand-to-ligand charge transfer complexes

The synthesis and characterization of dinuclear ligand-to-ligand charge transfer complexes are described. Each complex is comprised of square-planar platinum(II) coordinated to a 3-tert-butyl-orthocatecholate donor and a 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine acceptor. Both complexes exhibit donor → acceptor ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LL'CT) bands in the visible spectrum. The platinum complexes are covalently attached at the catecholate 5-position to either a meta- or para-phenylene bridge fragment. Both cyclic voltammetry and electronic absorption spectroscopy exhibit features characteristic of intramolecular interaction between the platinum centres. The LL'CT excited state lifetimes are ∼twofold longer than the mononuclear parent complex. The properties of these complexes are discussed and compared to similar complexes in the literature.

Role of the Trifluoropropynyl Ligand in Blue-Shifting Charge-Transfer States in Emissive Pt Diimine Complexes and an Investigation into the PMMA-Imposed Rigidoluminescence and Rigidochromism

Square-planar Pt^II complexes are of interest as dopants for the emissive layer of organic light-emitting diodes. Herein, the photophysics of three Pt bipyridyl complexes with the strongly e^- withdrawing, high-field, 3,3,3-trifluoropropynyl ligand has been investigated. One complex, (phbpy)PtC₂CF₃ (phbpy = 6-phenyl-2,2'-dipyridyl), has also been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All complexes reported are emissive in both RT CH₂Cl₂ solution (Φ_PL = 0.007 to 0.027) and PMMA film (Φ_PL = 0.25 to 0.42). The trifluoropropynyl ligand elevates the energy of the MLCT and LL'CT states above that of the IL π-π* state, resulting in IL emission in all cases. The emission energies of the trifluoropropynyl compounds are also blue-shifted relative to the analogous pentafluorophenylethynyl compounds, suggesting that the trifluoropropynyl ligand is one of the most electron-withdrawing alkynyl ligands. Rate constants for radiative and nonradiative deactivation were determined from experimentally determined values of Φ_PL and excited-state lifetimes in both solution and PMMA films. The increase in Φ_PL upon incorporation into PMMA film (rigidoluminescence) results from a decrease in the rate constant for non-radiative relaxation. Experimental activation energies for excited-state decay in combination with TDDFT are consistent with the rigidoluminescence resulting from an increase in the energy of the non-emissive triplet metal-centered state. Two of the complexes investigated, (^Ph2bpy)Pt(C₂CF₃)₂ and (^t-Bu2bpy)Pt(C₂CF₃)₂, where ^t-Bu2bpy = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-dipyridyl and ^Ph2bpy = 4,4'-diphenyl-2,2'-dipyridyl, exhibit concentration-dependent excimer emission (orange) along with monomer emission (blue), enabling fine-tuning of the emission color. However, excimer emission was absent in cured PMMA films up to the solubility limit for solution processing of (^Ph2bpy)Pt(C₂CF₃)₂ in CH₂Cl₂, demonstrating the diffusional nature of excimer formation.

Excited State Magneto-Structural Correlations Related to Photoinduced Electron Spin Polarization

Photoinduced electron spin polarization (ESP) is reported in the ground state of a series of complexes consisting of an organic radical (nitronylnitroxide, NN) covalently attached to a donor-acceptor chromophore either directly or via para-phenylene bridges substituted with 0-4 methyl groups. These molecules represent a class of chromophores that undergo visible light excitation to produce an initial exchange-coupled, three-spin [bpy^•-, CAT^•+ (= semiquinone, SQ) and NN^•], charge-separated doublet ²S₁ (S = chromophore spin singlet configuration) excited state that rapidly decays by magnetic exchange-enhanced internal conversion to a ²T₁ (T = chromophore excited spin triplet configuration) state. The ²T₁ state equilibrates with chromophoric and NN radical-derived excited states, resulting in absorptive ESP of the recovered ground state, which persists for greater than a millisecond and can be measured by low-temperature time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The magnitude of the ground state ESP is found to correlate with the excited state magnetic exchange interaction between the CAT^+• and NN^• radicals, which in turn is controlled by the structure of the bridge fragment.

Luminescent cyclometalated alkynylplatinum(II) complexes with 1,3-di(pyrimidin-2-yl)benzene ligands: synthesis, electrochemistry, photophysics and computational studies

In this article, we report on a series of cyclometalated chloro- and alkynyl-platinum(II) complexes bearing various tridentate N^C^N-cyclometalated ligands derived from 1,3-bis(pyrimidin-2-yl)benzene. The X-ray crystal structures of two alkynyl-platinum(II) complexes were determined and other structures were DFT-calculated. Electrochemical and DFT-computational studies suggest a ligand-centred reduction on the R¹-substituted N^C^N ligand, whereas oxidation likely occurs either on the Pt-phenylacetylide moiety and/or the cyclometalated ligand. In CH₂Cl₂ solution at room temperature, the complexes show phosphorescent emissions ranging from green to orange, depending on the R¹ and R² substituents on the ligands. In KBr solid state matrix, excluding complexes bearing a trifluoromethyl substituted ligand, all compounds exhibit red emission. The presence of an alkynyl ancillary ligand has limited influence on absorption and emission spectra except in the case of the complex with the strongly electron-donating diphenylamino R² substituent on the alkynyl ligand, for which a significant red-shift was observed. The alkynyl Pt(II) complex with OMe groups as both R¹ and R² substituents shows the best emission quantum yield (0.81 in CH₂Cl₂ solution) in this series. The full series of DFT calculated band gaps correlated generally well with the electrochemical and absorption data and reasonably model the impact of the substituents on the electronics of these complexes.

Heteroleptic Pd(II) and Pt(II) Complexes with Redox-Active Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, and Multimodal Anticancer Mechanism

A series of heteroleptic square-planar Pt and Pd complexes with bis(diisopropylphenyl) iminoacenaphtene (dpp-Bian) and Cl, 1,3-dithia-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate (dmit), or 1,3-dithia-2-thione-4,5-diselenolate (dsit) ligands have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic techniques, elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The intermolecular noncovalent interactions in the crystal structures were assessed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The anticancer activity of Pd complexes in breast cancer cell lines was limited by their solubility. Pd(dpp-Bian) complexes with dmit and dsit ligands as well as an uncoordinated dpp-Bian ligand were devoid of cytotoxicity, while the [Pd(dpp-Bian)Cl2] complex was cytotoxic. On the contrary, all Pt(dpp-Bian) complexes demonstrated anticancer activity in a low micromolar concentration range, which was 8-20 times higher than the activity of cisplatin, and up to 2.5-fold selectivity toward cancer cells over healthy fibroblasts. The presence of a redox-active dpp-Bian ligand in Pt and Pd complexes resulted in the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells. In addition, these complexes were able to intercalate into DNA, indicating the dual mechanism of action.

Excited State Exchange Control of Photoinduced Electron Spin Polarization in Electronic Ground States

Ground-state electron spin polarization (ESP) is generated in radical elaborated (bpy)Pt(CAT-NN) and (bpy)Pt(CAT-p-Me₂PhMe₂-NN) (bpy = 5,5'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine, CAT = 3-tert-butylcatecholate, p-Ph = para-phenylene, NN = nitronylnitroxide). Photoexcitation produces an exchange-coupled, three-spin, charge-separated doublet ²S₁ (S = chromophore excited spin singlet configuration) excited state that rapidly decays to a ²T₁ (T = chromophore excited spin triplet configuration) excited state. The SQ-bridge-NN bond torsions affect the magnitude of the excited state exchange interaction (J_SQ-NN), which determines the ²T₁-⁴T₁ energy gap. Ground state ESP is dependent on the magnitude of J_SQ-NN, and we postulate that this results from differences in ²T₁ and ⁴T₁ state mixing. Mechanisms that lead to the rapid transfer of the excited state ESP to the ground state are discussed. Although subnanosecond ²T₁ state lifetimes are measured optically in solution, the ground state ESP decays very slowly at 20 K and is observable for more than a millisecond.

Metal-Metal-to-Ligand Charge Transfer in Pt(II) Dimers Bridged by Pyridyl and Quinoline Thiols

The investigation of two distinct species of square planar dinuclear Pt(II) dimers based on anti-[Pt(C^∧N)(μ-N^∧S)]₂, where C^∧N is either 2-phenylpyridine (ppy) or benzo(h)quinoline (bzq) and N^∧S is pyridine-2-thiol (pyt), 6-methylpyridine-2-thiol (Mpyt), or 2-quinolinethiol (2QT), is presented. Each molecule was thoroughly characterized with electronic structure calculations, static UV-vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry, along with transient absorbance and time-gated PL experiments. These visible absorbing chromophores feature metal-metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MMLCT) excited states that originate from intramolecular d⁸-d⁸ metal-metal σ-interactions and are manifested in the ground- and excited-state properties of these molecules. All five molecules reported (anti-[Pt(ppy)(μ-Mpyt)]₂ could not be isolated), three of which are newly conceived here, possess electronic absorptions past 500 nm and high quantum yield PL emission with spectra extending into the far red (λ_em > 700 nm), originating from the charge-transfer state in each instance. Each chromophore displays excited-state decay kinetics adequately modeled by single exponentials as recorded using dynamic absorption and PL experiments; each technique yields similar decay kinetics. The combined data illustrate that pyridyl and quinoline-thiolates in conjunction with select cyclometalates represent classes of MMLCT chromophores that exhibit excited-state properties suitable for promoting light-energized chemical reactions and provide a molecular platform suitable for evaluating coherence phenomena in transient metal-metal bond-forming photochemistry.

Non-palindromic (C^C^D) gold(III) pincer complexes are not accessible by intramolecular oxidative addition of biphenylenes - an experimental and quantum chemical study

We herein report on the synthesis of biphenylenes substituted with a pyridine (N), a phosphine (P) and a carbene (C') donor as well as a carbene donor with additional pyridine in the lateral position. We describe the synthesis and structures of derived gold(i) complexes, which we tried to use for the synthesis of non-palindromic [(C^C^D)AuIII] pincer complexes by means of an intramolecular oxidative addition of the strained biphenylene ring. However, the anticipated formation of gold(iii) complexes failed due to kinetic and thermodynamic reasons, which we extensively investigated by quantum chemical calculations. Furthermore, we shed light on the oxidative addition of biphenylene to two different gold(i) systems reported in the literature. Our comprehensive quantum-chemical analysis is complemented by NMR experiments.

Twist to Boost: Circumventing Quantum Yield and Dissymmetry Factor Trade-Off in Circularly Polarized Luminescence

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) enables promising applications in asymmetric photonics. However, the performances of CPL molecules do not yet meet the requirements of these applications. The shortcoming originates from the trade-off in CPL between the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and the photoluminescence dissymmetry factor (g_PL). In this study, we developed a molecular strategy to circumvent this trade-off. Our approach takes advantage of the strong propensity of [Pt(N^C^N)Cl], where the N^C^N ligand is 1-(2-oxazoline)-3-(2-pyridyl)phenylate, to form face-to-face stacks. We introduced chiral substituents, including (S)-methyl, (R)- and (S)-isopropyl, and (S)-indanyl groups, into the ligand framework. This asymmetric control induces torsional displacements that give homohelical stacks of the Pt(II) complexes. X-ray single-crystal structure analyses for the (S)-isopropyl Pt(II) complex reveal the formation of a homohelical dimer with a Pt···Pt distance of 3.48 Å, which is less than the sum of the van der Waals radii of Pt. This helical stack elicits the metal-metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MMLCT) transition that exhibits strong chiroptical activity due to the electric transition moment making an acute angle to the magnetic transition moment. The PLQY and g_PL values of the MMLCT phosphorescence emission of the (S)-isopropyl Pt(II) complex are 0.49 and 8.4 × 10^-4, which are improved by factors of ca. 6 and 4, respectively, relative to the values of the unimolecular emission (PLQY, 0.078; g_PL, 2.4 × 10^-4). Our photophysical measurements for the systematically controlled Pt(II) complexes reveal that the CPL amplifications depend on the chiral substituent. Our investigations also indicate that excimers are not responsible for the enhanced chiroptical activity. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, organic electroluminescence devices were fabricated. The MMLCT emission devices were found to exhibit simultaneous enhancements in the external quantum efficiency (EQE, 9.7%) and the electroluminescence dissymmetry factor (g_EL, 1.2 × 10^-4) over the unimolecular emission devices (EQE, 5.8%; g_EL, 0.3 × 10^-4). These results demonstrate the usefulness of using the chiroptically active MMLCT emission for achieving an amplified CPL.

Phosphorescent κ3 -(N^C^C)-Gold(III) Complexes: Synthesis, Photophysics, Computational Studies and Application to Solution-Processable OLEDs

Efficient OLED devices have been fabricated using organometallic complexes of platinum group metals. Still, the high material cost and low stability represent central challenges for their application in commercial display technologies. Based on its innate stability, gold(III) complexes are emerging as promising candidates for high-performance OLEDs. Here, a series of alkynyl-, N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)- and aryl-gold(III) complexes stabilized by a κ³ -(N^C^C) template have been prepared and their photophysical properties have been characterized in detail. These compounds exhibit good photoluminescence quantum efficiency (η_PL ) of up to 33 %. The PL emission can be tuned from sky-blue to yellowish green colors by variations on both the ancillary ligands as well as on the pincer template. Further, solution-processable OLED devices based on some of these complexes display remarkable emissive properties (η_CE 46.6 cd.A^-1 and η_ext 14.0 %), thus showcasing the potential of these motifs for the low-cost fabrication of display and illumination technologies.

Synthesis of New Donor-Substituted Biphenyls: Pre-ligands for Highly Luminescent (C^C^D) Gold(III) Pincer Complexes

We herein report on new synthetic strategies for the preparation of pyridine and imidazole substituted 2,2'-dihalo biphenyls. These structures are pre-ligands suitable for the preparation of respective stannoles. The latter can successfully be transmetalated to K[AuCl4 ] forming non-palindromic [(C^C^D)AuIII ] pincer complexes featuring a lateral pyridine (D=N) or N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC, D=C') donor. The latter is the first report on a pincer complex with two formally anionic sp2 and one carbenic carbon donor. The [(C^C^D)AuIII ] complexes show intense phosphorescence in solution at room temperature. We discuss the developed multistep strategy and touch upon synthetic challenges. The prepared complexes have been fully characterized including X-ray diffraction analysis. The gold(III) complexes' photophysical properties have been investigated by absorption and emission spectroscopy as well as quantum chemical calculations on the quasi-relativistic two-component TD-DFT and GW/Bethe-Salpeter level including spin-orbit coupling. Thus, we shed light on the electronic influence of the non-palindromic pincer ligand and reveal non-radiative relaxation pathways of the different ligands employed.

Vapochromic crystals: understanding vapochromism from the perspective of crystal engineering

Vapochromic materials, which undergo colour and/or emission changes upon exposure to certain vapours or gases, have received increasing attention recently because of their wide range of applications in, e.g., chemical sensors, light-emitting diodes, and environmental monitors. Vapochromic crystals, as a specific kind of vapochromic materials, can be investigated from the perspective of crystal engineering to understand the mechanism of vapochromism. Moreover, understanding the vapochromism mechanism will be beneficial to design and prepare task-specific vapochromic crystals as one kind of low-cost 'electronic nose' to detect toxic gases or volatile organic compounds. This review provides important information in a broad scientific context to develop new vapochromic materials, which covers organometallic or coordination complexes and organic crystals, as well as the different mechanisms of the related vapochromic behaviour. In addition, recent examples of supramolecular vapochromic crystals and metal-organic-framework (MOFs) vapochromic crystals are introduced.

Synthetic access to a phosphorescent non-palindromic pincer complex of palladium by a double oxidative addition – comproportionation sequence

A highly phosphorescent non-palindromic (C^C^N) palladium complex may be prepared by means of a double oxidative addition – comproportionation sequence, which is a new approach for the synthesis of non-palindromic pincer complexes.

Impact of Group 10 Metals on the Solvent-Induced Disproportionation of o-Semiquinonato Complexes

The oxidation of [M^II (3,5-DTBCat)(DTBbpy)] (M=Ni ([Ni]), Pd ([Pd]), and Pt ([Pt]); 3,5-DTBCat=3,5-di-tert-butylcatecholato; DTBbpy=4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine) afforded the dimeric {[Ni^II (3,5-DTBSQ)(DTBbpy)](PF₆ )}₂ ({[Ni](PF₆ )}₂ ; 3,5-DTBSQ=3,5-di-tert-butylsemiquinonato) and monomeric semiquinonato (SQ) complexes [M^II (3,5-DTBSQ)(DTBbpy)](PF₆ ) (M=Pd ([Pd](PF₆ )) and Pt ([Pt](PF₆ ))). The negative solvatochromic properties of the SQ complexes allowed us to estimate the relative order of their dipole moments: [Pd](PF₆ )>[Pt](PF₆ )>{[Ni](PF₆ )}₂ . The complexes [Pd](PF₆ ) and [Pt](PF₆ ) adopt monomeric structures and are stable in CH₂ Cl₂ and toluene, whereas they gradually disproportionate at room temperature to [M] and 3,5-di-tert-butylbenzoquinone (3,5-DTBBQ) in polar solvents such as THF, MeOH, EtOH, DMF, or DMSO. The results of spectroscopic studies suggested that the oxidized nickel complex adopts a monomeric structure ([Ni](PF₆ )) in CH₂ Cl₂ , but a dimeric structure ({[Ni](PF₆ )}₂ ) in the other investigated solvents. In polar solvents, {[Ni](PF₆ )}₂ may disproportionate to [Ni] and 3,5-DTBBQ at 323 K, thereby demonstrating a significant solvent- and metal-dependence in temperature. The relative activities of {[Ni](PF₆ )}₂ and [M](PF₆ ) toward disproportionation are related to the electrochemically estimated K_dis values in CH₂ Cl₂ and DMF. The present work demonstrates that solvent polarity and the dipole moments of the SQ complexes promote disproportionation, which can be controlled by a judicious choice of the metal ion, solvent, and temperature.

A comparative theoretical study on the optoelectronic and nonlinear optical properties of [Pt(bpy)(qdt)] derivatives with electron-donating and -withdrawing anchors

A series of [Pt(bpy)(qdt)] {bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; qdt = quinoxaline-2,3-dithiolate} derivatives was chosen to study the effect of structural modifications on the optoelectronic and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the molecules.

Vibrational Control of Covalency Effects Related to the Active Sites of Molybdenum Enzymes

A multitechnique spectroscopic and theoretical study of the Cp₂M(benzenedithiolato) (M = Ti, V, Mo; Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅) series provides deep insight into dithiolene electronic structure contributions to electron transfer reactivity and reduction potential modulation in pyranopterin molybdenum enzymes. This work explains the magnitude of the dithiolene folding distortion and the concomitant changes in metal-ligand covalency that are sensitive to electronic structure changes as a function of d-electron occupancy in the redox orbital. It is shown that the large fold angle differences correlate with covalency, and the fold angle distortion is due to a pseudo-Jahn-Teller (PJT) effect. The PJT effect in these and related transition metal dithiolene systems arises from the small energy differences between metal and sulfur valence molecular orbitals, which uniquely poise these systems for dramatic geometric and electronic structure changes as the oxidation state changes. Herein, we have used a combination of resonance Raman, magnetic circular dichroism, electron paramagnetic resonance, and UV photoelectron spectroscopies to explore the electronic states involved in the vibronic coupling mechanism. Comparison between the UV photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) of the d² M = Mo complex and the resonance Raman spectra of the d¹ M = V complex reveals the power of this combined spectroscopic approach. Here, we observe that the UPS spectrum of Cp₂Mo(bdt) contains an intriguing vibronic progession that is dominated by a "missing-mode" that is composed of PJT-active distortions. We discuss the relationship of the PJT distortions to facile electron transfer in molybdenum enzymes.

Rise of Conjugated Poly-ynes and Poly(Metalla-ynes): From Design Through Synthesis to Structure-Property Relationships and Applications

Conjugated poly-ynes and poly(metalla-ynes) constitute an important class of new materials with potential application in various domains of science. The key factors responsible for the diverse usage of these materials is their intriguing and tunable chemical and photophysical properties. This review highlights fascinating advances made in the field of conjugated organic poly-ynes and poly(metalla-ynes) incorporating group 4-11 metals. This includes several important aspects of conjugated poly-ynes viz. synthetic protocols, bonding, electronic structure, nature of luminescence, structure-property relationships, diverse applications, and concluding remarks. Furthermore, we delineated the future directions and challenges in this particular area of research.

Uncommon Optical Properties and Silver-Responsive Turn-Off/On Luminescence in a PtII Heteroleptic Dithiolene Complex

Complex [Pt(iPr₂ pipdt)(Quinoxdt)] (iPr₂ pipdt=1,4-diisopropyl-piperazine-2,3-dithione; Quinoxdt=[1,4]dithiino[2,3-b]quinoxaline-2,3-dithiolate) exhibits a remarkable green emission at 570 nm (room temperature), which is above the lowest excited state. The complex is characterized by negative solvatochromism as well as a high second-order polarizability. Addition of Ag^I ions induces 1) hypsochromic shift of the lowest frequencies and 2) reversible quenching of luminescence. The corresponding Ni and Pd complexes have also been prepared and investigated to assist interpretation of optical properties within the triad. Computational studies based on DFT and time-dependent DFT highlight the electronic properties of [Pt(iPr₂ pipdt)(Quinoxdt)]. The preferential site of interaction between the Pt complex and incoming Ag^I is evidenced by the shape of the Fukui functions, pointing to the thiolic sulfur and platinum atoms as the most reactive sites towards a soft cation. Calculated optical properties are in agreement with experimental findings. This study sheds light on the structure-property relationship for this class of compounds.

Red photo- and electroluminescent half-lantern cyclometalated dinuclear platinum(II) complex

New cyclometalated dinuclear platinum(II) complex bearing bridged 4,6-dimethylpyrimidine-2(1H)-thiolate (μ-C6H7N2S-κN,S) ligands, [{Pt(ppy)(μ-C6H7N2S-κN,S)}2] (3) (ppy=(2-phenylpyridinato-C2,N)) was prepared via the reaction of chloro-bridged dimer [{Pt(ppy)Cl}2] with 4,6-dimethylpyrimidine-2(1H)-thione (C6H8N2S) in the presence of t-BuOK. The complex holds dinuclear frameworks with short Pt(II)···Pt(II) distance (2.8877(3) Å), and exhibit red intense luminescence from the triplet metal-metal-to-ligand charge-transfer at 697 nm in CH2Cl2 solution and at 649 nm in solid state at RT. Single crystal XRD analysis reveals the metallophilic interactions Pt···Pt with significant covalent contribution in the structure of 3 which were studied by quasi-relativistic and relativistic DFT calculations (viz., M06/MWB60(Pt) and 6-311+G* (other atoms); M06/DZP-DKH levels of theory) and topological analysis of the electron density distribution within the framework of Bader’s theory (QTAIM method). Estimated strength of the Pt···Pt contact is 8.1–12.2 kcal/mol and it is mostly determined by crystal packing effects and weak attractive interactions between the adjacent metal centers due to overlapping of their dz2 and pz orbitals. An organic light-emitting diode based on this complex showed red electroluminescence with maximal luminance of 115 cd/m2 and current efficiency of 2.45 cd/A at this luminance.