Long-Lived Trimetallic Complexes of Fe(II), Ru(II), and Os(II) Based on a Heteroditopic Bipyridine-Terpyridine Bridge: Synthesis, Photophysics, and Electronic Energy Transfer

Luminescent Ruthenium-Terpyridine Complexes Coupled with Stilbene-Appended Naphthalene, Anthracene, and Pyrene Motifs Demonstrate Fluoride Ion Sensing and Reversible Trans-Cis Photoisomerization

A new family of luminescent heteroleptic Ru(II)-terpyridine complexes coupled with stilbene-appended naphthalene, anthracene, and pyrene motifs is reported. Each of the complexes features moderately intense emission at room temperature having a lifetime of 16.7 ns for naphthalene and 11.4 ns for anthracene, while a substantially elevated lifetime of 8.3 μs was observed for the pyrene derivative. All the three complexes display a reversible couple in the positive potential window due to Ru2+/Ru3+ oxidation but multiple reversible and/or quasi-reversible peaks in the negative potential domain because of the reduction of the terpyridine moieties. All the complexes selectively sense F- among the studied anions via the intermediary of different noncovalent interactions. The interaction event is monitored through absorption, emission, and 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, upon utilizing the stilbene motif, reversible trans-cis isomerization of the complexes has been undertaken upon alternate treatment of visible and UV light so that the complexes can act as potential photomolecular switches. We also carried out the anion sensing characterization of the cis form of the complexes. Theoretical calculation employing density functional theory is also executed for a selective complex (naphthalene derivative) to elucidate different noncovalent interactions that are operative during the complex-fluoride interplay.

Ru(II)-Ru(II) and Ru(II)-Os(II) Homo-/Heterodinuclear Complexes and Ru3(II)-Ru(II) Homotetranuclear Complexes Based on Heteroditopic Bridging Ligands: Synthesis, Photophysics, and Effective Energy Transfer

In this paper, the synthesis, photophysics, electrochemistry, and intramolecular energy transfer of two series of dinuclear and tetranuclear metallic complexes [(bpy)2M1LxM2(bpy)2]4+ (x = 1, 2; M1 = Ru, M2 = Ru/Os; M1 = Os, M2 = Ru) and {[Ru(bpy)2(Lx)]3Ru}8+ based on new heteroditopic bridging ligands (L1 = 6-phenyl-4-Hpip-2-2'-bipyridine, L2 = 6-Hpip-2-2'-bipyridine, Hpip = 2-phenyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline) are reported. The dimetallic and tetrametallic complexes exhibit rich redox properties with successive reversible metal-centered oxidation and ligand-centered reduction couples. All complexes display intense absorption in the entire ultraviolet-visible spectral regions. The mononuclear [LxRu(bpy)2]2+ and homodinuclear [(bpy)2RuLxRu(bpy)2]4+ complexes display strong Ru-based characteristic emission at room temperature. Interestingly, the optical studies of heterodinuclear complexes reveal almost complete quenching of the RuII-based emission and efficient photoinduced energy transfer, resulting in an OsII-based emission in the near-infrared region. As a result of the intramolecular energy transfer from the center to the periphery and steric hindrance quenching of the peripheral RuII-centered emissive triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer states, the tetranuclear complexes exhibit weak RuII-based emission with a short lifetime. Since the light absorbed by several chromophores is efficiently directed to the subunit with the lowest-energy excited state, the present multinuclear complexes can be used as well-visible-light-absorption antennas.

Energy transfer in metal-exchange binuclear complexes covalently linked by asymmetric ligands

Nitrogen complexation with π-conjugated ligands is an effective strategy for synthesizing luminescent molecules. The asymmetric bridging ligands L (L1 and L2) have been designed. The terminal chelating sites of the L1 and L2 bridging ligands consisted of 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline moieties (where L = L1 and L2; L1 = 2-(3-((4-([2,2'-bipyridin]-6-yl)benzyl)oxy)phenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline and L2 = 2-(3-((4-(6-phenyl-[2,2'-bipyridin]-4-yl)benzyl)oxy)phenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline). The full use of the synthetic strategy of the "complexes as ligands and complexes as metals" was expected to successfully design and synthesize a series of conjugated metal-exchange complexes linked by the asymmetric bridging ligands L1 and L2. These compounds included monometallic complexes Ru(L) and (L)Ru (C1, C2, C7, and C8), homometallic complexes Ru(L)Ru (C3 and C4), and heterometallic complexes Os(L)Ru and Ru(L)Os (C5, C6, C9, and C10) with Ru- or Os-based units. C3-C10 complexes exhibited various degrees of octahedral distortion around the Ru(II) or Os(II) center, which was consistent with the optimized geometry of the coordination complexes based on density functional theory calculation. These complexes exhibited intense spin-allowed ligand-centered transitions with high absorbance at around 288 nm upon absorbing visible light. Notably, all complexes exhibited spin-allowed metal-to-ligand charge transfer absorption of the Ru-based units in the 440-450 nm range. In addition, the heterometallic C5, C6, C9, and C10 complexes showed absorption of the Os-based units in the range of 565-583 nm. The intramolecular energy transfer of C3 and C5 was briefly discussed by comparing the emission intensity of monometallic C1 and C2 to that of binuclear complexes C3 and C5, respectively. The results indicated that the intramolecular energy transfer of the Ru(II)/Os(II) polypyridine complexes proceeded from the Ru(II)- to the Os(II)-based units in the heterometallic C5 and C6 complexes.

Modulation of ground and excited state properties of ruthenium complexes through sequential incorporation of metal into a polypyridyl-imidazole bridging ligand

A polypyridyl-imidazole-based bridging ligand, 2-(4-(4,5-di(pyridine-2-yl)-1H-imidazole-2-yl)phenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline (phen-H2PhImz-bpy), possessing three bidentate coordinating sites, has been designed in this work. The bridging ligand is employed to synthesize mono-, bi-, and trimetallic Ru(II) complexes in combination with terminal bipyridine units for the systematic modulation of photophysical and redox properties upon sequential incorporation of the metal unit into the bridge. All the compounds are characterized via NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Absorption and both steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopic investigations of the ligand as well as Ru(II) complexes are thoroughly conducted in different solvents. The redox behaviors of the complexes are examined through cyclic voltammetry (CV) in acetonitrile. The focus of the investigation is centered on the systematic modulation of MLCT absorption and emission as well as the redox behavior of the complex entity upon the gradual incorporation of the Ru2+ unit into the complex backbone. The emission energy, quantum yield and lifetime are found to decrease systematically with an increase in the Ru2+ unit in the complex backbone and a linear relationship is observed in each case. A good correlation is also observed between the emission energies of complexes with their respective ΔE1/2 values (the difference between the first oxidation and first reduction potential).

Influences of Both N,N,N- and N,N,C-Coordination Modes of Tolyl-terpyridine on the Photophysical Properties of Cyclometalated Ru(II) Complexes: Combined Experimental and Theoretical Investigations on Acid/Base-Dependent Reversible Cyclometalation

With the goal of developing a new strategy for the synthesis of luminescent Ru(II) complexes, we have prepared herein a new set of bis-tridentate complexes of the type [(py-bpy-Ph-X)Ru(tpy-PhCH3)]ClO4 (X = -CH3, -CH2Br, and -CHO) incorporating both non-cyclometalated and cyclometalated coordination motifs of two isomeric forms of methylphenyl-terpyridine (tpy-PhCH3). Thorough characterization of the synthesized complexes is carried out using standard analytical tools and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Detailed investigations on their photophysical and electrochemical behaviors are carried out in MeCN. The presence of a carbanionic center in the cyclometalating unit increases the absorption spectral window of the complexes into a longer-wavelength region. The complexes also exhibit room-temperature luminescence in the NIR domain with enhanced excited-state lifetimes (up to 20.1 ns) compared to their non-cyclometalated counterpart, [Ru(tpy-PhCH3)2]2+. In the presence of acid, the non-coordinated nitrogen atom in the secondary coordination sphere of the complexes allows fine-tuning of the absorption and emission spectral properties. Excess acid induces de-coordination of the Ru-C bond, which is signaled by a remarkable alteration of their spectral profiles. Cleavage of the Ru-C bond is also possible upon treating the acidified solution of the complexes with visible light. Restoration of the Ru-C bond is again feasible upon treating the solution with base at an elevated temperature (∼70 °C). In essence, "on-off" and "off-on" switching of emission is facilitated upon alternating treatment of the Ru(II) complexes with acid, base, and temperature. DFT and TD-DFT calculations are also performed for assignments of the spectral bands as well as to understand structural changes associated with the switching behaviors of the complexes.

Anion and Temperature Responsive Molecular Switches Based on Trimetallic Complexes of Ru(II) and Os(II) That Demonstrate Advanced Boolean and Fuzzy Logic Functions

Anion- and temperature-induced alteration of the photoredox behaviors of our recently reported trimetallic complexes was carried out to fabricate potential molecular switches. The triads [(phen)₂Ru(d-HIm-t)M(t-HIm-d)Ru(phen)₂]⁶⁺ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, d-HIm-t = heterotopic bipyridine-terpyridne type bridging ligand, and M = Ru^II and Os^II) possess two acidic imidazole NH protons that upon interaction with anions give rise to considerable changes in their photophysical and electrochemical behaviors. Red-shifts of the absorption and emission maximum and a decrease in the M³⁺/M²⁺ potential occur when the triads are treated with basic anions. In fact, the triads can function as triple-channel sensors for F^-, AcO^-, CN^-, OH^-, and H₂PO₄^- in acetonitrile and as selective probes for CN^- and SCN^- in water. The equilibrium constants for the receptor-anion interaction are on the order of 10⁶ M^-1, while the limit of detection was on the order of 10^-9 M. Temperature plays a key role in the luminescence properties of the triads by adjusting the energy barrier between the emitting triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer and non-emitting triplet metal-centered levels. A decrease in temperature leads to increases in the emission intensity and lifetime of the triads displaying the "on state", whereas an increase in temperature leads to a decrease in their emission characteristics and thus indicates the "off state" and that the process is fully reversible. In essence, the triads could function as potential switches on the basis of the reversible change in their spectral and redox behaviors under the influence of anion, acid, and temperature. The most important outcome of this study is mimicking several advanced Boolean and fuzzy logic functions by utilizing the spectral response of the triads upon the action of said external stimuli.

Tuning of photo-redox behaviours and thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of intercomponent energy transfer in trimetallic complexes of Ru(II) and Os(II) by exploiting their second coordination sphere

This paper deals with a thorough investigation of pH-induced tuning of the ground and excited state photophysical as well as electrochemical behaviours of two series of our recently reported homo- and heterotrimetallic complexes of the type [(bpy)₂Ru(d-HIm-t)M(t-HIm-d)Ru(bpy)₂]⁶⁺ and [(bpy)₂Os(d-HIm-t)M(t-HIm-d)Os(bpy)₂]⁶⁺ (M = Ru^II and Os^II) derived from a heteroditopic bpy-tpy (d-HIm-t) type bridging ligand through the exploitation of their second coordination sphere. A small bathochromic shift of the absorption and emission spectral band along with substantial alteration of emission intensity and lifetime of the triads is noted upon deprotonation of the NH motifs at elevated pH values. The lowering of the half wave potential of a M³⁺/M²⁺ couple is also observed upon removal of the NH protons. Both ground and excited state pK_a values of the triads are estimated from their absorption/emission versus pH spectral profiles. In addition, the variation of the free energy change (ΔG) and the rate of intercomponent energy transfer (k_en) in the triads upon stepwise deprotonation of the NH motifs are also addressed in the present study.

Stepwise introduction of three different transition metals in metallo-supramolecular polymer for quad-color electrochromism

Metallo-supramolecular polymers (MSPs) show unique electrochemical and optical properties, that are different to organic polymers, caused by electronic interactions between metals and ligands. For the development of quad-color electrochromic materials, here we report the stepwise introduction of three different transition metal ions into an MSP, utilizing the different complexation abilities of the transition metals. An MSP with Os(II), Ru(II), and Fe(II) (polyOsRuFe) was synthesized via a stepwise synthetic route through the formation of an Os(II) complex first, followed by the introduction of Ru(II) to the Os(II) complex, and finally the attachment of Fe(II) to the Os(II)-Ru(II) complex to produce the polymer. This synthetic procedure was extended to fabricate MSPs that comprised Co(II)/Ru(II)/Os(II) and Zn(II)/Ru(II)/Os(II). The synthesized MSPs showed a broad optical and electrochemical window due to the coupling of three heterometallic segments into the polymer. Introducing acetate anion as the counter anion greatly enhanced the solubility of polyOsRuFe in methanol. A thin film of polyOsRuFe was prepared on ITO/glass by spin-coating the methanol solution, and its reversible quad-color electrochromism was demonstrated.

Controlling the Direction of Intercomponent Energy Transfer by Appropriate Placement of Metals in Long-Lived Trinuclear Complexes of Fe(II), Ru(II), and Os(II)

In this work, we report the synthesis, photophysics, and electrochemistry of a new array of trinuclear complexes, [(bpy)₂Os(d-HIm-t)M(t-HIm-d)Os(bpy)₂]⁶⁺ (M = Fe^II, Ru^II, and Os^II), based on a previously reported bipyridine-terpyridine type bridge (d-HIm-t). Photophysical behavior of in situ generated trinuclear OsZnOs complex {[(bpy)₂Os(d-HIm-t)Zn(t-HIm-d)Os(bpy)₂]⁶⁺} was also investigated to understand the complicated photophysics of trinuclear array. Complexes display very rich redox properties demonstrating multiple metal-based oxidation and ligand-based reduction couples. The triads exhibit strong absorption throughout the entire UV-vis spectral region and also emit in the near-infrared domain (NIR) with a sufficiently long lifetime at ambient temperature. Intercomponent energy transfer, either from the periphery to the center or from the center to the periphery, depending upon the relative position of metals, was convincingly demonstrated through steady-state emission and lifetime measurements of the triads together with respective model complexes. Interestingly, Fe²⁺ does not worsen the emission behavior of the OsFeOs system to a great extent. Present trinuclear complexes act as a visible light absorbing antenna by funneling the absorbed light to the subunit(s) with the lowest energy excited state.