J. A. Gareth Williams

Photochemistry and Photophysics of Coordination Compounds: Platinum

This chapter provides an overview of the luminescence properties of platinum(II) complexes, exploring how the excited states involved in emission are influenced by the ligands around the metal ion. The square planar nature of d8 Pt(II) complexes has many implications, leading to properties and applications that are not open to d6 complexes. For example, axial intermolecular interactions can lead to new excited states not present in the isolated molecules. This review focuses on complexes containing one or more chelating ligands, of which at least one contains a heterocyclic ring such as pyridine. Thus, we explore the properties of a range of bipyridyl (bpy) and terpyridyl (tpy) complexes, and how they are influenced by the identity of the other ligands that complete the coordination sphere of the Pt(II) ion, such as halide, cyanide, thiolates and acetylides. We consider the sometimes dramatic influence of substituents in the bpy/tpy ligands in producing other excited states that may be much more intensely emissive than those of the parent complexes. The influence of cyclometallation on excited states is discussed, and how it can lead to highly emissive complexes: a range of cyclometallated systems are reviewed, with bidentate and terdentate ligands incorporating one or more metal–carbon bonds. Contemporary applications in areas such as sensors, photoinduced electron transfer, and organic light-emitting devices are highlighted.

Time-resolved and two-photon emission imaging microscopy of live cells with inert platinum complexes

This work explores time-resolved emission imaging microscopy (TREM) for noninvasive imaging and mapping of live cells on a hitherto uncharted microsecond time scale. Simple robust molecules for this purpose have long been sought. We have developed highly emissive, synthetically versatile, and photostable platinum(II) complexes that make TREM a practicable reality. [PtLCl], {HL = 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene and derivatives}, are charge-neutral, small molecules that have low cytotoxicity and accumulate intracellularly within a remarkably short incubation time of 5 min, apparently under diffusion control. Their microsecond lifetimes and emission quantum yields of up to 70% are exceptionally high for transition metal complexes and permit the application of TREM to be demonstrated in a range of live cell types—normal human dermal fibroblast, neoplastic C8161 and CHO cells. [PtLCl] are thus likely to be suitable emission labels for any eukaryotic cell types. The high photostability of [PtLCl] under intense prolonged irradiation has allowed the development of tissue-friendly NIR two-photon excitation (TPE) in conjunction with transition metal complexes in live cells. A combination of confocal one-photon excitation, nonlinear TPE, and microsecond time-resolved imaging has revealed (i) preferential localization of the complexes to intracellular nucleic acid structures, in particular the nucleoli and (ii) the possibility of measuring intracellular emission lifetimes in the microsecond range. The combination of TREM, TPE, and Pt(II) complexes will be a powerful tool for investigating intracellular processes in vivo, because the long lifetimes allow discrimination from autofluorescence and open up the use of commonplace technology.

The coordination chemistry of dipyridylbenzene: N-deficient terpyridine or panacea for brightly luminescent metal complexes?

1,3-Di(2-pyridyl)benzene (dpybH) structurally resembles the widely-used ligand terpyridine (tpy), with which it is isoelectronic. In this critical review, following a brief overview of synthetic strategies for dpybH and derivatives, we survey the different types of complex that are possible with these ligands. Whilst metals such as ruthenium(ii), osmium(ii) and platinum(ii) give a terdentate N--C--N binding mode in which cyclometallation occurs at C(2), the ions iridium(iii), rhodium(iii) and palladium(ii) favour C(4) metallation. The latter process can be blocked by appropriate ligand modification, to allow the N--C--N mode to be accessed with these metal ions too. The luminescence properties of the complexes are discussed. A huge range of emission efficiencies are encountered amongst Ir(iii) complexes containing dpyb derivatives, according to the other ligands present. Trends can be rationalised with the aid of simple frontier-orbital considerations. The Pt(ii) complexes of dipyridylbenzenes are also intensely luminescent. Their application to contemporary organic light-emitting device (OLED) technology is discussed, including white light emitters exploiting excimer emission. Their potential as cell imaging agents amenable to time-resolved detection procedures on the microsecond timescale has also been demonstrated (118 references).

Luminescence imaging microscopy and lifetime mapping using kinetically stable lanthanide(III) complexes.

The sensitised luminescence from stable lanthanide complexes (1 and 2) bearing a phenanthridine antenna has been used to generate time-resolved images of silica particles. The millisecond order luminescent lifetime of these complexes is utilised to demonstrate time-gated imaging of the sample from a fluorescent background and to facilitate lifetime mapping over the area of the sample.

The time domain in co-stained cell imaging: time-resolved emission imaging microscopy using a protonatable luminescent iridium complex

The intense luminescence of the new complex Ir(ppy)(2)(pybz) (1) within the cytoplasm of live cells can be discriminated from the fluorescence of an organic stain, solely on the basis of the emission timescale {pybzH = 2-pyridyl-benzimidazole}. The protonated form of 1 displays red-shifted emission, and may be implicated in a superior uptake compared to Ir(ppy)(3).

Efficient Sensitization of Europium, Ytterbium, and Neodymium Functionalized Tris-Dipicolinate Lanthanide Complexes through Tunable Charge-Transfer Excited States

A series of push-pull donor-pi-conjugated dipicolinic acid ligands and related tris-dipicolinate europium and lutetium complexes have been prepared. The ligands present broad absorption and emission transitions in the visible spectral range unambiguously assigned to charge-transfer transitions (CT) by means of time-dependent density functional theory calculations. The photophysical properties (absorption, emission, luminescence quantum yield, and lifetime) of the corresponding europium complexes were thoroughly investigated. Solvatochromism and temperature effects clearly confirm that Eu(III) sensitization directly occurs from the ligand CT state. In addition, modulation of the energy of the CT donating state by changing the nature of the donor fragment allows the optimal energy of the antennae for europium sensitization to be determined, and this optimal energy was found to be close to the (5)D 1 accepting state. Finally, this CT sensitization process has been successfully extended to near-infrared emitters (neodymium and ytterbium).

Excited state surfaces in density functional theory: A new twist on an old problem

Excited state surfaces in density functional theory and the problem of charge transfer are considered from an orbital overlap perspective. For common density functional approximations, the accuracy of the surface will not be uniform if the spatial overlap between the occupied and virtual orbitals involved in the excitation has a strong conformational dependence; the excited state surface will collapse toward the ground state in regions where the overlap is very low. This characteristic is used to predict and to provide insight into the breakdown of excited state surfaces in the classic push-pull 4-(dimethylamino)benzonitrile molecule, as a function of twist angle. The breakdown is eliminated using a Coulomb-attenuated functional. Analogous situations will arise in many molecules.

Metallahelicenes: Easily Accessible Helicene Derivatives with Large and Tunable Chiroptical Properties†

Enantiopure metallahelicenes have been prepared by cyclometalation of 2-pyridyl-substituted benzophenanthrenes followed by resolution using chiral HPLC. They are red phosphors at room temperature and their chiroptical properties can be modulated by oxidation of the metal center to the oxidation state IV.

PHOTOINDUCED PROCESSES IN MULTICOMPONENT ARRAYS CONTAINING TRANSITION METAL COMPLEXES

Abstract The authors’ recent activity in the study of photoinduced energy and electron transfer in linear arrays containing porphyrins assembled around a Ru(II) ion, is reviewed. The effect of substituents and distance and the role of the heavy metal ion is discussed. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of Ir(III) terpyridine complexes indicate that Ir(III) ion is a good candidate to successfully replace Ru(II) in the construction of multiporphyrinic linear arrays to achieve efficient photoinduced electron transfer. Preliminary results on multi-porphyrinic systems based on Ir(III) bis-terpyridine are presented.

Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complexes of Pyrazole-Based, N∧C∧N-Coordinating, Terdentate Ligands: the Contrasting Influence of Pyrazolyl and Pyridyl Rings on Luminescence

1,3-Bis(1-pyrazolyl)-5-methyl-benzene, HL(2), undergoes cyclometalation at the C(2) position upon reaction with K(2)PtCl(4), to generate an N=C=N-coordinated complex, PtL(2)Cl. This compound is luminescent in degassed solution at 298 K, emitting in the blue region of the spectrum on the microsecond time scale (lambda(max) = 453 nm, tau = 4.0 micros, Phi(lum) = 0.02, in CH(2)Cl(2)). Compared to the analogous complex Pt(dpyb)Cl that incorporates pyridyl rather than pyrazole rings {dpybH = 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)-benzene}, the excited state is displaced to higher energy by 1700 cm(-1). This effect is rationalized in terms of the poorer pi-acceptor nature of pyrazolyl compared to pyridyl rings, leading to destabilization of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, which is largely localized on the heteroaromatic rings in both cases. Cyclic voltammetry and density functional theory calculations reinforce this interpretation, and suggest that the lowest-energy excited state is probably best described as heavily mixed pi(L)/d(Pt)/p(Cl) --> pi*(L) (IL/MLCT/LLCT) in character. 5-Aryl-substituted analogues of HL(2) are accessible in three steps from 1,3,5-tribromobenzene by Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling with aryl boronic acids, followed by copper-catalyzed bromo-iodo exchange, and subsequent amination with pyrazole under relatively mild conditions also catalyzed by copper. The corresponding Pt(II) complexes display red-shifted and more intense luminescence compared to PtL(2)Cl. Ligands incorporating one pyrazole and one pyridyl ring are also accessible; for example, 1-(1-pyrazolyl)-3-(2-pyridyl)benzene, HL(6). Their complexes are highly luminescent in solution; for example, for PtL(6)Cl, lambda(max) = 487 nm, tau = 6.9 micros, Phi(lum) = 0.55, in dilute solution in CH(2)Cl(2). At elevated concentrations, PtL(6)Cl displays an additional excimeric emission band that is substantially blue-shifted compared to that displayed by Pt(dpyb)Cl (bands centered at 645 and 695 nm, respectively), indicating that the presence of the pyrazole ring destabilizes the excimer. The introduction of a methyl substituent into the central aryl ring of such complexes is sufficient to eliminate the excimer emission.