A new class of highly solvatochromic dicyano rhenate(I) diimine complexes--synthesis, photophysics and photocatalysis

Anticancer and Antibiotic Rhenium Tri- and Dicarbonyl Complexes: Current Research and Future Perspectives

Organometallic compounds are increasingly recognized as promising anticancer and antibiotic drug candidates. Among the transition metal ions investigated for these purposes, rhenium occupies a special role. Its tri- and dicarbonyl complexes, in particular, attract continuous attention due to their relative ease of preparation, stability and unique photophysical and luminescent properties that allow the combination of diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, thereby permitting, e.g., molecules to be tracked within cells. In this review, we discuss the anticancer and antibiotic properties of rhenium tri- and dicarbonyl complexes described in the last seven years, mainly in terms of their structural variations and in vitro efficacy. Given the abundant literature available, the focus is initially directed on tricarbonyl complexes of rhenium. Dicarbonyl species of the metal ion, which are slowly gaining momentum, are discussed in the second part in terms of future perspective for the possible developments in the field.

Luminescent monomeric and dimeric Ru(ii) acyclic carbene complexes as selective sensors for NH3/amine vapor and humidity

A new class of luminescent bis(bipyridyl) Ru(ii) pyridyl acyclic carbene complexes with environmentally-sensitive dimerization equilibrium have been developed. Owing to the involvement of the orbitals of the diaminocarbene ligand in the emissive excited state, the phosphorescence properties of these complexes are strongly affected by H-bonding interactions with various H-bonding donor/acceptor molecules. With the remarkable differences in the emission properties of the monomer, dimer, and H-bonded amine adducts together with the change of the dimerization equilibrium, these complexes can be used as luminescent gas sensors for humidity, ammonia, and amine vapors. With the responses to amines and humidity and the corresponding change in the luminescence properties, a proof-of-principle for binary optical data storage with a reversible concealment process has been described.

Targeted Synthesis of NIR Luminescent Rhenium Diimine cis,trans-[Re( N N )(CO)2 (L)2 ]n+ Complexes Containing N-Donor Axial Ligands: Photophysical, Electrochemical, and Theoretical Studies

The combined action of ultraviolet irradiation and microwave heating onto acetonitrile solution of [Re( N N )(CO)₃ (NCMe)]OTf ( N N =phenantroline and neocuproine) afforded cis,trans-Re( N N )(CO)₂ (NCMe)₂ ]⁺ acetonitrile derivatives. Substitution of relatively labile NCMe with a series of aromatic N-donor ligands (pyridine, pyrazine, 4,4'-bipyridine, N-methyl-4,4'-bipyridine) gave a novel family of the diimine cis,trans-[Re( N N )(CO)₂ (L)₂ ]⁺ complexes. Photophysical studies of the obtained compounds in solution revealed unusually high absorption across the visible region and NIR phosphorescence with emission band maxima ranging from 711 to 805 nm. The nature of emissive excited states was studied using DFT calculations to show dominant contribution of ³ MLCT (dπ(Re)→π*( N N )) character. Electrochemical (CV and DPV) studies of the monocationic diimine complexes revealed one reduction and one oxidation wave assigned to reduction of the diimine moiety and oxidation of the rhenium center, respectively.

Towards better understanding of photophysical properties of rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes with terpy-like ligands

Series of Re(I) carbonyls complexes were designed and synthesized to explore the impact of the triimine skeleton and number of methoxy groups attached to aryl substituents on their optoelectronic and thermal properties. The chemical structures of the prepared complexes were confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, HR-MS, elemental anlsysis, and X-ray measurements. DSC measuremtns showed that they melted in the range of 198-325 °C. Some of them form stable molecular glasses with high glass transition temperatures (158-173 °C). Experimentally obtained optical properties were supported by DFT calculations. The UV-Vis spectra display a series of overlapping absorption bands in the range 200-350 nm, and much weaker broad band in the visible spectral region, due to intraligand and charge transfer transitions, respectively. All synthesized complexes were emissive in solution and in solid state as powder. Moreover, when applied in diodes, some of them exhibited ability for emission of light under external voltage with maximum of electroluminescence band located at 591-630 nm.

A single 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium ion as a solvatochromic sensor array for multicolor visual discrimination of solvents

We report a single 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium ion (Acr+-Mes) as a solvatochromic sensor array for multicolor visual discrimination of solvents. The composite fluorescent response of Acr+-Mes to polarity, dispersed state, and lone-pair-π interactions produces different colors when it is dissolved in various solvents. The corresponding RGB values as sensing elements are extracted to create distinct fluorescence response patterns for each solvent. With the help of principal component analysis, common solvents, such as water (H2O), absolute ethanol (EtOH), acetonitrile (MeCN), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), acetone (CO(Me)2), dichloromethane (DCM), trichloromethane (TCM), tetrahydrofuran (THF), toluene (PhMe), and tetrachloromethane (CCl4), are successfully discriminated and identified with an accuracy of 100%. What's more, this sensor array can also discriminate binary solvent mixtures and quantitatively detect DMSO in organic and inorganic solvents.

Electronic Communication in Luminescent Dicyanorhenate-Bridged Homotrinuclear Rhenium(I) Complexes

A series of cyano-bridged homotrinuclear Re(I) complexes with the general formula of {[Re]'[Re][Re]'}⁺ {[Re]' = -[Re^I(CO)₂(LL)(X)]; [Re] = -[(NC)Re^I(CO)₂(phen)(CN)]-; LL = diimine, diphosphine, or two carbonyl ligands; X = triphenylphosphine or carbonyl ligand} and the corresponding mononuclear complex analogues were synthesized. The structures of most of the trinuclear Re(I) complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The relative orientations of peripheral to central Re(I) units in these structures vary considerably. The photophysical properties of these trinuclear Re(I) complexes have been examined. Except for the trinuclear Re(I) complex with Br₂phen ligand, all the other triads display orange to red photoluminescence derived from the ³MLCT [dπ(Re) → π*(phen)] origin of the central Re(I) unit, suggestive of efficient energy transfer between the peripheral chromophores and the central unit. In addition to the efficient energy transfer processes between the Re(I) chromophores in these trinuclear complexes, the ability of the [NC-Re-CN] bridging ligands for electronic coupling between the rhenium metal centers is evidenced by ca. 0.2-0.3 V separation of the two rhenium metal-based oxidation potentials of the chemically equivalent peripheral units.

Supramolecular Construction of Cyanide-Bridged ReI Diimine Multichromophores

The reactions of labile [Re(diimine)(CO)₃(H₂O)]⁺ precursors (diimine = 2,2'-bipyridine, bpy; 1,10-phenanthroline, phen) with dicyanoargentate anion produce the dirhenium cyanide-bridged compounds [{Re(diimine)(CO)₃}₂CN)]⁺ (1 and 2). Substitution of the axial carbonyl ligands in 2 for triphenylphosphine gives the derivative [{Re(phen)(CO)₂(PPh₃)}₂CN]⁺ (3), while the employment of a neutral metalloligand [Au(PPh₃)(CN)] affords heterobimetallic complex [{Re(phen)(CO)₃}NCAu(PPh₃)]⁺ (4). Furthermore, the utilization of [Au(CN)₂]^-, [Pt(CN)₄]^2-, and [Fe(CN)₆]^4-/3- cyanometallates leads to the higher nuclearity aggregates [{Re(diimine)(CO)₃NC} _xM] ^m+ (M = Au, x = 2, 5 and 6; Pt, x = 4, 7 and 8; Fe, x = 6, 9 and 10). All novel compounds were characterized crystallographically. Assemblies 1-8 are phosphorescent both in solution and in the solid state; according to the DFT analysis, the optical properties are mainly associated with charge transfer from Re tricarbonyl motif to the diimine fragment. The energy of this process can be substantially modified by the properties of the ancillary ligands that allows to attain near-IR emission for 3 (λ_em = 737 nm in CH₂Cl₂). The Re-Fe^II/III complexes 9 and 10 are not luminescent but exhibit low energy absorptions, reaching 846 nm (10) due to Re^I → Fe^III transition.

Photochemical Processes in a Rhenium(I) Tricarbonyl N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complex Studied by Time-Resolved Measurements

We carried out time-resolved infrared (TR-IR) and emission lifetime measurements on a Re(I) carbonyl complex having an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, namely, fac-[Re(CO)₃(PyImPh)Br], under photochemically reactive (in solution in acetonitrile) and nonreactive (in solution in dichloromethane) conditions to investigate the mechanism of photochemical ligand substitution reactions. The TR-IR measurements revealed that no reaction occurs on a picosecond time scale and the cationic product, namely, fac-[Re(CO)₃(PyImPh)(MeCN)]⁺, is produced on a nanosecond time scale only in solution in acetonitrile, which indicates that the reaction proceeds thermally from the excited state. Because no other products were observed by TR-IR, we concluded that this cationic product is an intermediate species for further reactions. The measurements of the temperature-dependent emission lifetime and analysis using transition-state theory revealed that the photochemical substitution reaction proceeds from a metal-to-ligand charge transfer excited state, the structure of which allows the potential coordination of a solvent molecule. Thus, the coordinating capacity of the solvent determines whether the reaction proceeds or not. This mechanism is different from those of photochemical reactions of other types of Re(I) carbonyl complexes owing to the unique characteristics of the carbene ligand.

Photochemical and electrochemical catalytic reduction of CO2 with NHC-containing dicarbonyl rhenium(i) bipyridine complexes

The electrochemical and photochemical catalytic reductions of CO2 using N,O and N,S-NHC-containing dicarbonyl rhenium(i) bipyridine complexes have been investigated. By replacing the carbonyl ligand in tricarbonyl rhenium(i) complexes with a weaker π-accepting ligand, the characteristic MLCT transitions shifted to lower energy. This makes photocatalysts capable of harvesting low-energy visible light for catalyzing CO2 reduction. A detailed study revealed that these dicarbonyl rhenium(i) complexes are also highly selective for photocatalysis of CO2 to CO with a good quantum efficiency (10%), similar to that of the tricarbonyl rhenium(i) complex analogues. From the electrochemical study, it was observed that the catalysts efficiently produce CO from CO2 with high turnover frequency and good stability over time.

Synthesis, structures and photophysical properties of luminescent cyanoruthenate(ii) complexes with hydroxylated bipyridine and phenanthroline ligands

Two luminescent cyanoruthenate(ii) complexes with hydroxylated ligands were obtained and their solvatochromism, pH effect and cationic effect on the photophysical properties have been studied.

Solid-state (185/187)Re NMR and GIPAW DFT study of perrhenates and Re2(CO)10: chemical shift anisotropy, NMR crystallography, and a metal-metal bond

Advances in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) methods, such as dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), intricate pulse sequences, and increased applied magnetic fields, allow for the study of systems which even very recently would be impractical. However, SSNMR methods using certain quadrupolar probe nuclei (i.e., I > 1/2), such as (185/187)Re remain far from fully developed due to the exceedingly strong interaction between the quadrupole moment of these nuclei and local electric field gradients (EFGs). We present a detailed high-field (B0 = 21.1 T) experimental SSNMR study on several perrhenates (KReO4, AgReO4, Ca(ReO4)2·2H2O), as well as ReO3 and Re2(CO)10. We propose solid ReO3 as a new rhenium SSNMR chemical shift standard due to its reproducible and sharp (185/187)Re NMR resonances. We show that for KReO4, previously poorly understood high-order quadrupole-induced effects (HOQIE) on the satellite transitions can be used to measure the EFG tensor asymmetry (i.e., ηQ) to nearly an order-of-magnitude greater precision than competing SSNMR and nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) approaches. Samples of AgReO4 and Ca(ReO4)2·2H2O enable us to comment on the effects of counter-ions and hydration upon Re(vii) chemical shifts. Calcium-43 and (185/187)Re NMR tensor parameters allow us to conclude that two proposed crystal structures for Ca(ReO4)2·2H2O, which would be considered as distinct, are in fact the same structure. Study of Re2(CO)10 provides insights into the effects of Re-Re bonding on the rhenium NMR tensor parameters and rhenium oxidation state on the Re chemical shift value. As overtone NQR experiments allowed us to precisely measure the (185/187)Re EFG tensor of Re2(CO)10, we were able to measure rhenium chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) for the first time in a powdered sample. Experimental observations are supported by gauge-including projector augmented-wave (GIPAW) density functional theory (DFT) calculations, with NMR tensor calculations also provided for NH4ReO4, NaReO4 and RbReO4. These calculations are able to reproduce many of the experimental trends in rhenium δiso values and EFG tensor magnitudes. Using KReO4 as a prototypical perrhenate-containing system, we establish a correlation between the tetrahedral shear strain parameter (|ψ|) and the nuclear electric quadrupolar coupling constant (CQ), which enables the refinement of the structure of ND4ReO4. Shortcomings in traditional DFT approaches, even when including relativistic effects via the zeroth-order regular approximation (ZORA), for calculating rhenium NMR tensor parameters are identified for Re2(CO)10.

Silver nanoparticle based highly selective and sensitive solvatochromatic sensor for colorimetric detection of 1,4-dioxane in aqueous media

A silver nanoparticle based solvatochromic sensor that selectively and sensitively detects 1,4-dioxane in aqueous media has been developed. The nanoparticle surfaces generate ROS, which promote 1,4-dioxane degradation, causing a sharp colour change.

Luminescent cyanoruthenate(II)-diimine and cyanoruthenium(II)-diimine complexes

To improve the emission and excited-state properties of luminescent cyanometalates, new classes of highly solvatochromic luminescent cyanoruthenium(II) and cyanoruthenate(II) complexes of the general formulae [Ru(PR3)2(CN)2(NN)] and K[Ru(PR3)(CN)3(NN)], respectively, were developed. These complexes could be readily synthesized through the ligand-substitution reaction of K2[Ru(CN)4(PR3)2] with a diimine ligand. The geometrical isomerism of these complexes was characterized by using various spectroscopic techniques. Their photophysical properties, solvatochromism, and electrochemistry have also been investigated. Our detailed study showed that many of these complexes exhibited extremely environmentally sensitive emissions and significantly improved emission quantum efficiencies and lifetimes compared with the well-studied tetracyanoruthenate systems.

A protective layer approach to solvatochromic sensors

As they have been designed to undergo colorimetric changes that are dependent on the polarity of solvents, the majority of conventional solvatochromic molecule based sensor systems inevitably display broad overlaps in their absorption and emission bands. As a result, colorimetric differentiation of solvents of similar polarity has been extremely difficult. Here we present a tailor-made colorimetric and fluorescence turn-on type solvatochromic sensor that enables facile identification of a specific solvent. The sensor system displays a colorimetric transition only when a thin protective layer, which protects the solvatochromic materials, is destroyed or disrupted by a specific solvent. The versatility of the strategy is demonstrated by designing a sensor that differentiates chloroform and dichloromethane colorimetrically and one that performs sequence selective colorimetric sensing. In addition, the approach is employed to construct a solvatochromic molecular AND logic gate. The new strategy could open new avenues for the development of novel solvatochromic sensors.