Platinum(II) polypyridines: A tale of two axes

There are many possible applications for luminescent platinum terpyridine (trpy) complexes, but the emission quantum yield and lifetime vary greatly depending upon the design. One reason is that potentially emissive metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) states occur at relatively high energies because a planar coordination geometry is not the best supporting environment for a Pt(III) center. At the same time, strain in the Pt–N sigma bond framework often results in low-lying d–d excited states that effectively quench the emission. One way of differentially lowering the energy of the emitting state, and thereby reducing the effect of d–d states, involves delocalizing the π*(trpy) acceptor orbital onto a 4′-aryl substituent. Delocalizing the ‘hole’ orbital is an alternative approach capable of producing dramatic results. Thus, with the addition of an electron-rich group like –NMe2 or 1-naphthyl to the 4′-position of trpy ligand, the emitting state takes on intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) character and the excited-state lifetime extends to tens of microseconds in dichloromethane solution. In some systems introduction of a π-donating co-ligand enhances the emission yield, and when the co-ligand is a very electron-rich group like an ethynylarene, the emitting state takes on an admixture of ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer (LLCT) character. Finally, it is possible to destabilize deactivating states by incorporating an ethynylalkane as a strong-field co-ligand, or by utilizing a carbometalating derivative of the trpy ligand. Complexes of the latter support another type of ILCT excitation because of the presence of the formally anionic phenyl moiety, and the emission energy vary greatly depending upon which ligand axis contains the Pt–C bond.