Switching on the Phosphorescence of Pyrene by Cycloplatination

(P,C)-cyclometalated complexes derived from naphthyl phosphines: versatile and powerful tools in organometallic chemistry

The chemistry of (P,C)-cyclometalated complexes derived from naphthyl phosphines [^Np(P,C)M] is presented and analysed in this review. The three main synthetic approaches, namely P-chelation assisted C-H activation, oxidative addition and transmetalation, are described and compared. If a naphthyl framework inherently predisposes a phosphorus atom and transition metal to interact, a rigid metallacycle may induce some strain and distortion, as apparent from the survey of the single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures deposited in the Cambridge Structural Database (77 entries with metals from groups 7 to 11). Generally, the ^Np(P,C)-cyclometalation imparts high thermal and chemical robustness to the complexes, and a variety of stoichiometric reactions have been reported. In most cases, the metalacyclic structure is retained, but protodecyclometalation and ring-expansion have been sparingly observed. [^Np(P,C)M] complexes have also proved to be competent and actually competitive catalysts in several transformations, and they act as key intermediates in some others. In addition, interesting phosphorescence properties have been occasionally pointed out.

Directing energy transfer in Pt(bodipy)(mercaptopyrene) dyads

We report on the photophysical properties of three dyads that combine a 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (bodipy, BDP) and a mercaptopyrene (SPyr) dye ligand at a Pt(PEt3)2 fragment. σ-Bonding of the dyes to the Pt ion promotes intersystem crossing (ISC) via the external heavy atom effect. The coupling of efficient ISC with charge-transfer from the electron-rich mercaptopyrene to the electron-accepting BDP ligand (PB-CT) gives rise to a multitude of (potentially) emissive states. This culminates in the presence of four different emissions for the mono- and dinuclear complexes BPtSPyr and BPtSPyrSPtB with an unsubstituted BDP ligand and either a terminal 1-mercaptopyrene or a bridging pyrene-1,6-dithiolate ligand. Thus, in fluid solution, near IR emission at 724 nm from the 3PB-CT state is observed with a quantum yield of up to 15%. Excitation into the BDP-based 1ππ* or the pyrene-based 1ππ* band additionally trigger fluorescence and phosphorescence emissions from the BDP-centred 1ππ* and 3ππ* states. In frozen solution, at 77 K, phosphorescence from the pyrene ligand becomes the prominent emission channel, while PB-CT emission is absent. Alkylation of the BDP ligand in KBPtSPyr funnels all excitation energy into fluorescence and phosphorescence emissions from the KBDP ligand. The assignments of the various excited states and the deactivation cascades were probed by absorption and emission spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy, electrochemical and UV/Vis/NIR spectroelectrochemical measurements, and by quantum chemical calculations. Our conclusions are further corroborated with the aid of suitable reference compounds comprising of just one chromophore. All dyads are triplet sensitizers and are able to generate singlet oxygen.

Four different emissions from a Pt(Bodipy)(PEt3)2(S-Pyrene) dyad

A bodipy-Pt-mercaptopyrene diad emits from a pyrene-to-bodipy charge-transfer, the bodipy ¹ππ* and ³ππ* and the pyrene ³ππ* states.

Near-unity thermally activated delayed fluorescence efficiency in three- and four-coordinate Au(i) complexes with diphosphine ligands

The synthesis and photoluminescence properties of three-coordinate Au(i) complexes with rigid diphosphine ligands LMe {1,2-bis[bis(2-methylphenyl)phosphino]benzene}, LEt {1,2-bis[bis(2-ethylphenyl)phosphino]benzene}, and LiPr {1,2-bis[bis(2-isopropylphenyl)phosphino]benzene} are investigated. The LMe and LEt ligands afford two types of complexes: dinuclear complexes [μ-LMe(AuCl)2] (1d) and [μ-LEt(AuCl)2] (2d) with an Au(i)-Au(i) bond and mononuclear three-coordinate Au(i) complexes LMeAuCl (1) and LEtAuCl (2). On the other hand, the bulkiest ligand, LiPr, affords three-coordinate Au(i) complexes, LiPrAuCl (3) and LiPrAuI (4), but no dinuclear complexes. X-ray analysis suggests that both 3 and 4 possess a highly distorted trigonal planar geometry. Moreover, luminescence data reveal that at room temperature, 3 and 4 exhibit yellow-green thermally activated delayed fluorescence in the crystalline state with maximum emission wavelengths at 558 and 549 nm, respectively. The emission yields are close to unity. Quantum chemical calculations suggest that the emission of 4 originates from the (σ + X) → π* excited state that possesses strong intraligand charge-transfer character. The luminescent properties of four-coordinate Au(i) complex (5) possessing a tetrahedral geometry are discussed on the basis of the emission spectra and decay times measured in a temperature range of 309-77 K.

Phosphorescence of several cocrystals assembled by diiodotetrafluorobenzene and three ring angular diazaphenanthrenes via CI···N halogen bond

X-ray single crystal diffraction reveals that a series of cocrystals are assembled by three ring angular diazaphenanthrenes including 1,7-phenanthroline, 4,7-phenanthroline and 1,10-phenanthroline with 1,4-/1,2-diiodotetrafluorobenzenes via C-I···N halogen bonding (XB) as main driving force. Raman shift of the symmetric CI stretching vibration coupling with ring elongation and lateral ring expansion to a lower frequency by 2 to 7cm^-1 for 1,4-DITFB in cocrystals shows the existence of C-I···N halogen bonding. All cocrystals phosphoresce with a distinct change of colors from yellow, orange, pink to red. Also phosphorescent lifetimes of cocrystals containing 1,4-DITFB are longer than those of others constructed by 1,2-DITFB. These phenanthrolines monomers have almost same phosphorescence wavelength (the max. at 493nm) in β-cyclodextrin solution in the presence of bromocyclohexane as a pure physically heavy atom perturber. The results demonstrate CI···N XB makes heavy atom effect more direct and efficient, and influences significantly the energy level of the lowest lying excited triplet states and the population of electrons to triplet state of the angular diazaphenanthrenes because of greater contribution of lone pair electrons from nitrogen to conjugation systems. Meanwhile, the XB modulates luminescent behaviors due to difference in positions of nitrogen atoms. Good coplanarity, i.e., torsion angles being closer to 0°, in CI···N halogen bonded binary systems also is an important factor affecting the appearance quality of cocrystals.

Chromophore-labelled, luminescent platinum complexes: syntheses, structures, and spectroscopic properties

Ligands based upon 4-carboxamide-2-phenylquinoline have been functionalised with naphthyl, anthracenyl and pyrenyl chromophores. The pyrene appended Pt(ii) complex shows excited state equilibration and a long emission lifetime.

Tuning the emission lifetime in bis-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes bearing iminopyrene ligands

Bis-cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes with the general formula Ir(ppz)2(X^NPyrene), where ppz = 1-phenylpyrazole and X^NPyrene is a bidentate chelate with X = N or O, are reported. Modifications on the ancillary ligand containing pyrene drastically affect the emission lifetimes observed (0.329 to 104 μs). Extended emission lifetimes in these complexes compared to model complexes result from reversible electronic energy transfer or the observation of dual emission containing along-lived pyrene ligand-centered triplet ((3)LC) component. A combination of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques are used to observe reversible electronic energy transfer in solution between the iridium core and pyrene moiety in the complex [Ir(ppz)2(NMe^NCH2Pyr)][PF6] (2), where NMe^NCH2Pyr = N-(pyren-1-ylmethyl)-1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethaneimine. Studies on [Ir(ppz)2(NMe^NCH2Pyr)][PF6] in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film reveal that reversible energy transfer is no longer effective, and instead, dual emission with a long-lived (3)LC component from pyrene is observed. Dual emission is observed in additional cyclometalated iridium complexes bearing pyrene-containing ancillary ligands N^NPyrene and O^NPyrene when the complexes are dispersed in a PMMA film.

Heteroleptic Ir(III) complexes containing both azolate chromophoric chelate and diphenylphosphinoaryl cyclometalates; reactivities, electronic properties and applications

The synthesis of a new family of octahedral Ir(III) complexes with dual cyclometalating phosphine chelates, namely: 1-(diphenylphosphino)naphthalene (dpnaH) and isoquinoline (dppiH), is reported. Two series of intermediate complexes, [Ir(dpna)(tht)(2)Cl(2)] (1), [Ir(dpna)(2)(OAc)] (2), [Ir(dppiH)(dppi)Cl(2)] (3) and [Ir(dppi)(2)(OAc)] (4), which can be classified by the coexistence of either a pair of cis-chlorides or a single acetate chelate, were obtained from treatment of phosphine with [IrCl(3)(tht)(3)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene). The in situ generated acetate complexes 2 and 4 could react with azolate chelates, namely: 5-(2-pyridyl)-3-trifluoromethyl pyrazole (fppzH) and 5-(1-isoquinolyl)-3-tert-butyl-1,2,4-triazole (iqbtzH), to afford a new series of luminescent complexes [Ir(dpna)(2)(fppz)] (5a and 5b), [Ir(dpna)(2)(iqbtz)] (6a and 6b), [Ir(dppi)(2)(fppz)] (7a) and [Ir(dppi)(2)(iqbtz)] (8a). The phosphorescence lifetime (τ(obs)) fell in the range of a few tens of μs, showing possession of excessive ligand-centered ππ* mixed in part with MLCT character. A density functional theory (DFT) study was also conducted in order to shed light on the origin of the transitions in the absorption and emission spectra and to predict emission energies for these complexes. Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) displaying bright orange emission and with maximum η(ext) up to 17.1% were fabricated employing complexes 6a and 8a as the phosphorescent dopants.

Photooxidation of a platinum-anthracene pincer complex: formation and structures of Pt(II)-anthrone and -ketal complexes

Irradiating the cyclometalated pincer complex Pt(II)(DPA)Cl (1, DPA = 1,8-bis(diphenylphosphino)anthracene) in the presence of O(2) led to three sequential oxidations of the anthracenyl ring. The first photoproduct, a Pt(II)-9,10-endoperoxide complex, was converted photochemically to a Pt(II)-9-hydroxyanthrone complex A which was further oxygenated to a Pt(II)-hemiketal (B). The oxidation of A, which could be accelerated by light irradiation, probably involved a Pt(II)-anthraquinone intermediate. B underwent acid-catalyzed ketalization to form a binuclear Pt(II)(2)-diketal (B1). The photolysis was followed by UV-vis absorption and NMR spectroscopy, and the structures of A and B1 were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction.