Synthesis and characterization of rhenium(I) complexes with the polypyridinic quinone functionalized electron acceptor ligand [3,2-a:2′,3′-c]-benzo[3,4]-phenazine-11,16-quinone, Nqphen

► New rhenium complexes with a quinone functionalized ligand were synthesized. ► The changes in redox properties of the complexes, which correlate with donor properties of the monodentate ligands. ► The effect of structural linearity of quinone functionalized ligand Nqphen, that favors electron delocalization, could in turn favor an excited state charge separation.