Synthesis, Photophysical, and Computational Studies of a Bridged IrΙΙΙ-PtΙΙ Heterodimetallic Complex

Abstract

An IrIII-PtII heterodimetallic complex [(ppy)2Ir(dapz)PtCl2]Cl (4), together with the corresponding monometallic complexes [(dapz)PtCl2] (2) and [(ppy)2Ir(dapz)]Cl (3) was designed and prepared, where dapz is 2,5-di(N-methyl-N′-(pyrid-2-yl)amino)pyrazine and ppy is 2-phenylpyridine, respectively. Single-crystal X-ray analysis was carried out for complex 4, displaying the intermolecular Pt∙∙∙Pt and aromatic plane∙∙∙plane distances of 3.839 and 3.886 Å, respectively. The monometallic complex 2 exhibits a single emission maximum at 432 nm with a shorter excited-state lifetime (τ) of 6 ns, while complex 3 exhibits an emission band at 454 nm with a longer excited-state lifetime of 135 ns in CH3CN (N2-saturated) under ambient conditions. In contrast, the heterodimetallic complex 4 displays intriguing excitation wavelength-dependent dual singlet and triplet emissions. Theoretical calculations of the electronic structures and absorption spectra of these complexes were carried out to assist the interpretation of these experimental findings.