Photophysical Properties of Pt(II) Polypyridines with Five- versus Six-Membered Chelate Rings: Trade-Offs in Angle Strain.

This report describes the synthesis and characterization of a series of eight [Pt(NNN)X]+ complexes where the tridentate NNN ligand is (2,2'-bipyrid-6-yl)(pyrid-2-yl)sulfide (btp) or methyl(2,2'-bipyrid-6-yl)(pyrid-2-yl)amine (bmap) and X is OMe, Cl, phenylethynyl (C2Ph), or cyclohexylethynyl (C2Cy). The expectation was that inserting a heteroatom into the backbone of 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (trpy) would expand the overall intraligand bite angle, introduce ILCT character into the excited states, and improve the photophysical properties. Crystal structures of [Pt(bmap)C2Ph]+ and [Pt(btp)Cl]+ reveal that atom insertion into the trpy backbone successfully expands the bite angle of the ligand by 8-10°. However, the impact on the photophysics is minimal. Indeed, of the eight systems investigated, only the [Pt(bmap)C2Ph]+ and [Pt(btp)C2Ph]+ complexes display appreciable emission in fluid solution, and they exhibit shorter emission lifetimes than [Pt(trpy)C2Ph]+. One reason is that the bond angle preferences of platinum and the inserted heteroatom induce the six-membered rings to deviate from planarity and adopt a boat-like conformation, impairing charge delocalization within the ligand. In addition, angle strain induces the donor atoms about platinum to assume a pseudotetrahedral arrangement, which offsets any benefit due to the increase in overall bite angle by promoting deactivation via d-d excited states. The results reveal that, in order to improve the luminescence of a [Pt(NNN)X]+ system, one must take care to avoid trading one kind of angle strain for another.

Structure and emission studies of dimorphic crystals of [PtBr2(5,5'-bis(CF3CH2OCH2)-2,2'-bpy)] (1).

The yellow (1y) and orange (1o) crystalline polymorphs of [PtBr2(5,5'-bis(CF3CH2OCH2)-2,2'-bipyridine)] exhibit surprisingly short nearest neighbour Pt···Pt separations of 3.526 Å and 3.590 Å, respectively, at 295 K. Both distances are much shorter than those found in structures of the unsubstituted [PtBr2(2,2'-bipyridine)] analogue. Consistent with a linear chain structure in 1o and dimer formation in 1y, both solids exhibit emission spectra shifted to much longer wavelengths than that exhibited by the monomer in a low-temperature glass. Furthermore, the emission spectra of 1o and 1y shift to even longer wavelengths as the temperature decreases and the Pt···Pt separations contract. Till now delocalized emission of this type has been considered to be restricted to [PtCl2(diimine)] systems and implausible in PtBr2-containing analogues for steric reasons. Ironically, in the system at hand the bulky 5,5'-substituents apparently promote delocalization of the emission by forming a network of hydrogen-bonding-like C-H···F-C interactions that help shape the packing.

π donation and its effects on the excited-state lifetimes of luminescent platinum(II) terpyridine complexes in solution.

Introducing electron-donating groups extends the excited-state lifetimes of platinum(II)-terpyridine complexes in fluid solution. Such systems are of interest for a variety of applications, viz., as DNA-binding agents or as components in luminescence-based devices, especially sensors. The complexes investigated here are of the form [Pt(4'-X-T)Y](+), where 4'-X-T denotes a 4'-substituted 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine ligand and Y denotes the coligand. The π-donating abilities of -X and -Y increase systematically in the orders -NHMe < -NMe2 < -(pyrrolidin-1-yl) and -CN < -Cl < -CCPh, respectively. The results presented include crystal structures of two new 4'-NHMe-T complexes of platinum, as well as absorption, emission, and excited-state lifetime data for nine complexes. Excited-state lifetimes obtained in deoxygenated dichloromethane vary by a factor of 100, ranging from 24 µs for [Pt(4'-pyrr-T)CN](+) to 0.24 µs for [Pt(4'-ma-T)Cl](+), where ma-T denotes 4'-(methylamino)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine and pyrr-T denotes 4'-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine. Analysis of experimental and computational results shows that introducing a simple amine group on the terpyridine and/or a π-donating coligand engenders the emitting state with intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) and/or ligand-ligand charge-transfer (LLCT) character. The excited-state lifetime increases when the change in orbital parentage lowers the emission energy, suppresses quenching via d-d states, and encourages delocalization of the excitation onto the ligand(s). At some point, however, the energy is low enough that direct vibronic coupling to the ground-state surface becomes important, and the lifetime begins to decrease again.

Oysters produce an organic-inorganic adhesive for intertidal reef construction.

Coastal ecosystems rely upon oyster reefs to filter water, provide protection from storms, and build habitat for other species. From a chemistry perspective, few details are available to illustrate how these shellfish construct such extensive reef systems. Experiments presented here show that oysters generate a biomineralized adhesive material for aggregating into large communities. This cement is an organic-inorganic hybrid and differs from the surrounding shells by displaying an alternate CaCO(3) crystal form, a cross-linked organic matrix, and an elevated protein content. Emerging themes and unique aspects are both revealed when comparing oyster cement to the adhesives of other marine organisms. The presence of cross-linked proteins provides an analogy to mussel and barnacle adhesives whereas the high inorganic content is exclusive to oysters. With a description of oyster cement in hand we gain strategies for developing synthetic composite materials as well as a better understanding of the components needed for healthy coastal environments.