Synthesis, photophysical and electrophosphorescent properties of mononuclear Pt(II) complexes with arylamine functionalized cyclometalating ligands

Four cyclometalated Pt(II) complexes, i.e., [(L-2)PtCl] (1b), [(L-3)PtCl] (1c), [(L-2)PtC CC6H5] (2b) and [(L-3)PtC CC6H5] (2c) (HL2 = 4-[p-(N-butyl-N-phenyl)anilino]-6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine and HL3 = 4-[p(-N,N'-dibutyl-N'-phenyl)phenylene-diamino]-phenyl-6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine), have been synthesized and verified by H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR and X-ray crystallography. Unlike previously reported complexes [(L-1)PtCl] (1a) and [(L-1)PtC CC6H5] (2a) (HL1 = 4,6-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridine), intense and continuous absorption bands in the region of 300-500 nm with strong metal-to-ligand charge transfer ((MLCT)-M-1) (d pi(Pt) -> pi*(L)) transitions (epsilon similar to 2 x 10(4) dm(3) mol (1) cm (1)) at 449-467 nm were observed in the UV-Vis absorption spectra of complexes 1b, 1c, 2b and 2c.