Synthesis, tunable photophysics and nonlinear absorption of terpyridyl Pt(II) complexes bearing different acetylide ligands

•A series of terpyridyl Pt(II) complexes were synthesized and characterized.•The photophysics and nonlinear absorption of these complexes were investigated.•Three complexes exhibit RSA for the ns laser pulses at 532 nm.

A series of 4-phenyl-2,2′; 6′,2″-terpyridyl Pt(II) complexes bearing different σ-alkynyl ancillary ligands (1a–1f) were synthesized and characterized. All complexes exhibit strong 1π,π* absorption bands in the UV region; and broad, structureless metal-to-ligand charge transfer (1MLCT)/ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (1LLCT) absorption bands in the visible region. When excited at the charge-transfer absorption band, the complexes exhibit yellow to red luminescence (λmax = 553–608 nm) in CH3CN at room temperature, which is attributed to the 3MLCT/3LLCT state, except 1c. The emitting state of 1c exhibits a significant intraligand 3π,π* character, which is originated from the naphthalimide acetylide ligand. Complexes 1a–1c exhibit moderate triplet transient absorptions from visible to NIR region, where reverse saturable absorption (RSA) occurs. The photophysical, electrochemical and nonlinear absorption properties of these Pt(II) complexes can be tuned drastically by the different acetylide ligand, which would be useful for rational design of broadband nonlinear absorption materials.

Graphical abstractA series of 4-phenyl-2,2′; 6′,2″-terpyridyl Pt(II) complexes bearing different σ-alkynyl ancillary ligands (1a–1f) were synthesized and characterized. Their photophysical, electrochemical and nonlinear absorption properties can be tuned drastically by the acetylide ligand, which would be useful for rational design of transition-metal complexes for organic light-emitting materials and broadband nonlinear absorption materials.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide