ABSTRACT
A new class of dicarbonyl dicyano rhenate(I) diimine complexes, cis,trans-[Re(CO)(2)(CN)(2)(N-N)](-), with highly environmentally sensitive MLCT absorption and emission properties was synthesised and characterised. Preliminary experiments revealed that these complexes are active photocatalysts for CO(2) reduction.
ABSTRACT
New classes of tunable rhenium(I) diimine luminophores with formula of [Re(CO)(CNR)(3)(N-N)]PF(6) and [Re(CO)(L(x))(CNC(6)H(4)Cl-4)(2)(1,10-phenanthroline)]PF(6), (R = C(6)H(5), 4-BrC(6)H(4), 4-ClC(6)H(4), 4-MeOC(6)H(4), 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3); N-N = 1,10-phenanthroline, 5,6-dibromo-1,10-phenanthroline, 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine; L(x) = MeCN, pyridine and PPh(3)) have been synthesized. Different synthetic routes including photo-ligand substitution and thermal carbonyl ligand substitution through the oxidative decarbonylation with trimethyl amine N-oxide, for the facial and meridional isomeric forms of [Re(CO)(CNR)(3)(N-N)]PF(6) were investigated. On the basis of these synthetic strategies, different ligand modification and functionalization of the rhenium(I) diimine luminophores with tailored excited state properties could be readily achieved. The structures of both facial and meridional conformations of [Re(CO)(CNR)(3)(N-N)]PF(6) and the complex precursors fac-[Re(CO)(3)(CNC(6)H(3)(i)Pr-2,6)(3)]OTf were determined by X-ray crystallography. These complexes display an orange to red (3)MLLCT [dπ(Re) â π*(N-N)] phosphorescence at room temperature. Detailed photophysical investigations revealed that the physical, photophysical, electrochemical, and excited state properties can be fine-tuned and tailored through the modifications of the substituents on isocyanide or diimine ligands.
ABSTRACT
A new class of readily tunable isocyano rhenium(I) diimine luminophores, cis,cis-[Re(CO)(2)(CNR)(2)(N-N)](+) (R=2,4,6-Cl(3)C(6)H(2), 4-ClC(6)H(4), 4-Br-2,6-(CH(3))(2)C(6)H(2), 2,6-(CH(3))(2)C(6)H(3), 4-[(CH(3))(2)N]C(6)H(4), 4-(C(6)H(5))C(6)H(4), 4-nBuC(6)H(4), tBu), has been synthesized in high yield by a highly selective photochemical substitution reaction. These complexes were characterized by (1)H NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The X-ray crystal structures of one of the complexes and one of the precursor complexes for the photosubstitution reaction were also determined. As the isocyanide ligands are readily tunable, complexes with excellent solubility in benzene or other nonpolar solvents could be designed through slight modification of the isocyanide ligands with a short nBu substituent. With the characteristic strong infrared absorptions of the carbonyl (C≡O) and isocyanide (C≡N) stretches as well as the high solubility of the reactant and product in benzene, which is the solvent for the photoreaction, the photosubstitution reaction of [Re(CO)(3)(nBuC(6)H(4)NC)(2)Br] with 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine was also studied by in situ IR spectroscopy. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of these complexes were also investigated. Except for the complex with [(CH(3))(2)N]C(6)H(4)NC ligands, all complexes displayed intense luminescence with quantum yields of up to 0.37 in degassed CH(2)Cl(2) solution at room temperature. These emissions were assigned as the phosphorescence derived from the metal-to-ligand charge transfer [dπ(Re)âπ*(N-N)] excited state. The emissive excited states of these complexes have also been characterized by transient absorption spectroscopic studies. The capability of tuning the emissive excited-state energy through the modification of the isocyanide ligands could be reflected by the significant shifting of the phosphorescence from 530 to 620 nm with the same phenanthroline ligand.
