Mononuclear Cyclometalated Ruthenium(II) Complexes of 1,2,4,5-Tetrakis(N-methylbenzimidazolyl)benzene: Synthesis and Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Studies

Fine-Tuning of the Optical and Electrochemical Properties of Ruthenium(II) Complexes with 2-Arylbenzimidazoles and 4,4'-Dimethoxycarbonyl-2,2'-bipyridine

A series of cyclometalated complexes of ruthenium (II) with four different substituents in the aryl fragment of benzimidazole was synthesized in order to study the effect of substituent donation on the electronic structure of the substances. The resulting complexes were studied using X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, MALDI mass spectrometry, electron absorption spectroscopy, luminescence spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry as well as DFT/TDDFT was also used to interpret the results. All the complexes have intense absorption in the range of up to 700 nm, the triplet nature of the excited state was confirmed by measurement of luminescence decay. With an increase in substituent donation, a red shift of the absorption and emission bands occurs, and the lifetime of the excited state and the redox potential of the complex decrease. The combination of these properties shows that the complexes are excellent dyes and can be used as photosensitizers.

Synthesis, characterization, and photoelectric properties of iridium(iii) complexes containing an N hetero-dibenzofuran C^N ligand

In this study, three high-efficient green light iridium(iii) complexes were designed and synthesized, wherein 2-methyl-8-(2-pyridine) benzofuran [2,3-B] pyridine (MPBFP) is the main ligand and three β-diketone derivatives, namely 3,7-diethyl-4,6-nondiazone (detd), 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptyldione (tmd) and acetylacetone (acac), are ancillary ligands. The thermal stabilities, electrochemical properties, and electroluminescence (EL) performance of these three complexes, namely (MPBFP)₂ Ir(detd), (MPBFP)₂Ir(tmd) and (MPBFP)₂Ir(acac), were investigated. The results show that the absorption peaks of the three complexes range from 260 to 340 nm, and the maximum emission wavelengths are 537 nm, 544 nm and 540 nm, respectively. The LUMO level is −2.18 eV, −2.20 eV, −2.21 eV, and the HOMO level is −5.30 eV, −5.25 eV, and −5.25 eV, respectively. The thermal decomposition temperatures of each of the three compounds are 359 °C, 389 °C and 410 °C respectively, with a weight loss of 5%. Green phosphorescent electroluminescent devices were prepared with the structure of ITO/HAT-CN/TAPC/TCTA/TCTA:X/Bepp2/LiF/Al, and the three complexes were dispersed in the organic light-emitting layer as the guest material X. The maximum external quantum efficiency of the devices is 17.2%, 16.7%, and 16.5%, respectively. The maximum brightness is 57 328 cd m⁻², 69 267 cd m⁻² and 69 267 cd m⁻², respectively. With respect to the EL properties, (MPBFP)₂Ir(detd) is the best performer among the three complexes. The different performances exhibited by these complexes were discussed from the view point of substituent effect on the β-diketone ligands.

Three high-efficient green light iridium complexes were designed and prepared. Thermal stabilities, electrochemical properties, electroluminescence performances and substituents effects are presented and discussed in this study.

Cyclometalated ruthenium(ii) complexes with bis(benzimidazolyl)benzene for dye-sensitized solar cells

The length of alkyl chains on the benzimidazole rings of cyclometalated ruthenium dyes is critical to the DSSC performance.

Monometallic osmium(II) complexes with bis(N-methylbenzimidazolyl)benzene or -pyridine: a comparison study with ruthenium(II) analogues

Seven bis-tridentate osmium complexes with Mebib or Mebip (Mebib is the 2-deprotonated form of 1,3-bis(N-methylbenzimidazolyl)benzene and Mebip is bis(N-methylbenzimidazolyl)pyridine) have been prepared, and their electrochemical and spectroscopic properties are compared with ruthenium structural analogues. Among them, four complexes have the [Os(NCN)(NNN)]-type coordination, including [Os(Mebib)(Mebip)](PF6)2 (1(PF6)2), [Os(dpb)(Mebip)](PF6) (2(PF6), dpb is the 2-deprotonated form of 1,3-di(pyrid-2-yl)benzene), [Os(Mebib)(ttpy)](PF6) (3(PF6), ttpy = 4'-tolyl-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine), and [Os(dpb)(ttpy)](PF6) (4(PF6)). The other three complexes are [Os(Mebip)2](PF6)2 (5(PF6)2), [Os(Mebip)(tpy)](PF6)2 (6(PF6)2, tpy = 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine), and [Os(ttpy)2](PF6)2 (7(PF6)2) with the [Os(NNN)(NNN)]-type coordination. Single crystals of 2(PF6) and 6(PF6)2 have been obtained, and their structures are studied by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The Os(II/III) redox potentials of 1(PF6)2 to 7(PF6)2 progressively increase from +0.04, +0.23, +0.24, +0.36, +0.56, +0.79 to +0.94 V vs Ag/AgCl, which are 200-300 mV less positive relative to the Ru(II/III) potentials of their ruthenium counterparts. The highest occupied molecular orbital energy levels of 1(+)-7(2+) are calculated to vary in a descending order. The ruthenium and osmium complexes have singlet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transitions of similar energies and band shapes, while the osmium complexes display additional (3)MLCT transitions in the lower-energy region. Complexes 6(PF6)2 and 7(PF6)2 emit weakly at 780 and 740 nm, respectively. Complex 1(PF6)2 was synthesized as the oxidized Os(III) salt because of the low Os(II/III) potential. The transformation of 1(2+) to 1(+) by chemical reduction or electrolysis led to the emergence of the (1)MLCT transitions in the visible region.

Asymmetric mixed-valence complexes that consist of cyclometalated ruthenium and ferrocene: synthesis, characterization, and electronic-coupling studies

Three bis-tridentate ferrocene-containing cyclometalated ruthenium complexes, [(Fcdpb)Ru(tpy)](+) (1(+)), [(Fctpy)Ru(dpb)](+) (2(+)), and [(Fcdpb)Ru(Fctpy)](+) (3(+)), have been prepared and characterized, where Fcdpb is the 2-deprotonated form of 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)-5-ferrocenylbenzene, tpy is 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine, dpb is the 2-deprotonated form of 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene, and Fctpy is 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine. Single crystals of compounds 2(+) and 3(+) have been studied by X-ray analysis. Complexes 1(+) and 2(+) displayed two anodic redox waves, whilst three well-separated redox couples were observed for compound 3(+). A combined experimental and computational study suggested that the ferrocene unit on the Fcdpb moiety in compounds 1(+) and 3(+) was oxidized first. In contrast, the order of the oxidation of ruthenium and ferrocene in complex 2(+) was reversed. Metal-to-metal-charge-transfer transitions (MM'CT) have been observed for the singly oxidized states 1(2+), 2(2+), and 3(2+) in the near-infrared region. Hush analysis showed that the metal-metal electronic couplings in compounds 1(2+) and 3(2+) were much stronger than those in compound 2(2+).