Modulation of trans-to-cis photoisomerization and photoluminescence of 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene or 4-styrylpyridine coordinated to fac-tricarbonyl(5-chloro-1,10-phenathroline)rhenium(I)

Photochemical and photophysical properties of fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Clphen)(trans-L)](+) complexes, Clphen = 5-chloro-1,10-phenathroline and L = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene, bpe, or 4-styrylpyridine, stpy, were investigated to complement the understanding of intramolecular energy transfer process in tricarbonyl rhenium(I) complexes having an electron withdrawing group attached to polypyridyl ligands. These new compounds were synthesized, characterized and the photoisomerization quantum yields were accurately determined by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The true quantum yields for fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Clphen) (trans-bpe)](+) were constant (Phi = 0.55) at all investigated irradiation wavelengths. However, for fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Clphen)(trans-stpy)](+), similar true quantum yields were observed only at higher energy irradiation (Phi(313 nm) = 0.53 and Phi(365 nm) = 0.57), but it decreased significantly at 404 nm (Phi = 0.41). These results indicated different deactivation pathways for the trans-stpy complex photoisomerization. Quantum yields decreased as the (3)IL(trans-L) and (3)MLCT(Re -> NN) excited states become closer and the behavior was discussed in terms of the excited state energy gaps. Additionally, luminescence properties of photoproducts, fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Clphen)(cis-L)](+), were also investigated in different environments to analyze the relative energy of the (3)MLCT(Re -> Clphen) excited state for each compound. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

(1)H NMR spectroscopy as a tool to determine accurate photoisomerization quantum yields of stilbene-like ligands coordinated to rhenium(I) polypyridyl complexes

In this work, the use of proton nuclear magnetic resonance, (1)H NMR, was fully described as a powerful tool to follow a photoreaction and to determine accurate quantum yields, so called true quantum yields (Phi(true)), when a reactant and photoproduct absorption overlap. For this, Phi(true) for the trans-cis photoisomerization process were determined for rhenium(I) polypyridyl complexes, fac-[Re(CO)(3)(NN)(trans-L)](+) (NN = 1,10-phenanthroline, phen, or 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, ph(2)phen, and L = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl) ethylene, bpe, or 4-styrylpyridine, stpy). The true values determined at 365 nm irradiation (e. g. Phi(NMR) = 0.80 for fac-[Re(CO)(3)(phen)(trans-bpe)](+)) were much higher than those determined by absorption spectral changes (Phi(UV-Vis) = 0.39 for fac-[Re(CO)(3)(phen)(trans-bpe)](+)). Phi(NMR) are more accurate in these cases due to the distinct proton signals of trans and cis-isomers, which allow the actual determination of each component concentration under given irradiation time. Nevertheless when the photoproduct or reactant contribution at the probe wavelength is negligible, one can determine Phi(true) by regular absorption spectral changes. For instance, Phi(313) nm for free ligand photoisomerization determined both by absorption and (1)H NMR variation are equal within the experimental error (bpe: Phi(UV-Vis) = 0.27, Phi(NMR) = 0.26; stpy: Phi(UV-Vis) = 0.49, Phi(NMR) = 0.49). Moreover, (1)H NMR data combined with electronic spectra allowed molar absorptivity determination of difficult to isolate cis-complexes. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Photoswitches and Luminescent Rigidity Sensors Based on fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Me(4)phen)(L)](+)

The fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Me(4)phen)(trans-L)](+) complexes, Me(4)phen = 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and L = 4-styrylpyridine, stpy, or 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene, bpe, were synthesized and characterized by their spectroscopic, photochemical, and photophysical properties. The complexes exhibit trans-to-cis isomerization upon 313, 334, 365, and 404 nm irradiation, and the true quantum yields can be efficiently determined by absorption changes combined with (1)H NMR data. For fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Me(4)phen)(trans-bpe)](+) similar quantum yields were determined at all wavelengths investigated. However, a lower value (phi(true) = 0.35) was determined for fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Me(4)phen)(trans-stpy)](+) at 404 nm irradiation, which indicates different pathways for the photoisomerization process. The photoproducts, fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Me(4)phen)(cis-L)](+), exhibit luminescence at room temperature with two maxima ascribed to the (3)IL(Me4phen) and (3)MLCT(Re -> Me4phen) excited states. The luminescence properties were investigated in different media, and the behavior in glassy EPA at 77 K showed that the contribution of each emissive state is dependent on the excitation wavelength. The photochemical and photophysical behavior of the complexes were rationalized in terms of the energy gap of excited states and can be exploited in photoswitchable luminescent rigidity sensors.

Excited-State Dynamics in fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Me(4)phen)(L)](+)

Excited-state dynamics in fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Me(4)phen)(cis-L)](+) (Me(4)phen = 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, L = 4-styrylpyridine (stpy) or 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe)) were investigated by steady-state and time-resolved techniques. A complex equilibrium among three closely lying excited states, 3IL(cis-L), (3)MLCT(Re -> me4phen), and (3)IL(Me4phen), has been established. Under UV irradiation, cis-to-trans isomerization of coordinated cis-L is observed with a quantum yield of 0.15 in acetonitrile solutions. This photoreaction competes with radiative decay from (3)MLCT(Re -> Me4phen) and (3)IL(Me4phen) excited states, leading to a decrease in the emission quantum yield relative to the nonisomerizable complex fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Me(4)phen)(bpa)](+) (bpa = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane). From temperature-dependent time-resolved emission measurements in solution and in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films, energy barriers (Delta E(a)) for interconversion between (3)MLCT(Re -> me4Phen) and (3)IL(Me4phen) emitting states were determined. For L = cis-stpy, Delta E(a) = 11 (920 cm(-1)) and 15 kJ mol(-1) (1254 cm(-1)) in 5:4 propionitrile/butyronitrile and PMMA, respectively. For L = cis-bpe, Delta E(a) = 13 kJ mol(-1) (1087 cm(-1)) in 5:4 propionitrile/butyronitrile. These energy barriers are sufficient to decrease the rate constant for internal conversion from higher-lying (3)IL(me4phen) state to (3)MLCT(Re -> Me4phen), k(i) congruent to 10(6) s(-1). The decrease in rate allows for the observation of intraligand phosphorescence, even in fluid medium at room temperature. Our results provide additional insight into the role of energy gap and excited-state dynamics on the photochemical and photophysical properties of Re(I) polypyridyl complexes.