title: Rhenium-to-benzoylpyridine and rhenium-to-bipyridine MLCT excited states of fac-[Re(Cl)(4-benzoylpyridine)(2)(CO)(3)] and fac-[Re(4-benzoylpyridine)(CO)(3)(bpy)](+): a time-resolved spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical study.
abstract: The lowest allowed electronic transition of fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)(3)(bopy)(2)] (bopy = 4-benzoylpyridine) has a Re --> bopy MLCT character, as revealed by UV-vis and stationary resonance Raman spectroscopy. Accordingly, the lowest-lying, long-lived, excited state is Re --> bopy (3)MLCT. Electronic depopulation of the Re(CO)(3) unit and population of a bopy pi orbital upon excitation are evident by the upward shift of nu(CO) vibrations and a downward shift of the ketone nu(C=O) vibration, respectively, seen in picosecond time-resolved IR spectra. Moreover, reduction of a single bopy ligand in the (3)MLCT excited state is indicated by time-resolved visible and resonance Raman (TR(3)) spectra that show features typical of bopy(*)(-). In contrast, the lowest allowed electronic transition and lowest-lying excited state of a new complex fac-[Re(bopy)(CO)(3)(bpy)](+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) have been identified as Re --> bpy MLCT with no involvement of the bopy ligand, despite the fact that the first reduction of this complex is bopy-localized, as was proven spectroelectrochemically. This is a rare case in which the localizations of the lowest MLCT excitation and the first reduction are different. (3)MLCT excited states of both fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)(3)(bopy)(2)] and fac-[Re(bopy)(CO)(3)(bpy)](+) are initially formed vibrationally hot. Their relaxation is manifested by picosecond dynamic shifts of nu(C(triple bond)O) IR bands. The X-ray structure of fac-[Re(bopy)(CO)(3)(bpy)]PF(6).CH(3)CN has been determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Centre for Materials Research, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busby
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matousek
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Towrie
authors.forename: Ian P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motevalli
authors.forename: Frantisek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hartl
authors.forename: Antonín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vlcek