Novel Re(I) dendrimers: synthesis, characterization and theoretical studies

Four novel diimine rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes with the formula [Re(CO)(3)(L) Br], where L = 2-(4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl) phenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline (P1), 2-(4-(3,6-di-tert-butyl-9H-carbazol-9-yl) phenyl)-1H-imidazo-[4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline (P2), 2-(4-(6-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-9H-3,9'-bicarbazol-9-yl) phenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline (D1), and 2-(4-(3', 6'-di-tert-butyl-6-(3,6-di-tert-butyl-9H-carbazol-9-yl)-9H-3,9'-bicarbazol-9-yl) phenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline (D2), have been successfully synthesized and fully characterized by (HNMR)-H-1, IR, and UV-Vis, etc. The luminescence quantum yields (LQYs) of the parent Re(I) complexes P1 and P2 are 0.13 and 0.16, respectively, which are much higher than the previously reported Re(I) dendrimers. The HOMOs and the LUMOs of P1 and P2 are calculated to be mainly composed of [d(Re) + pi(CO + Br)] and pi*(L) orbital, respectively.