Cyclometalated platinum(II) complex with C∧N∧N tridentate ligand as sensitizer for lanthanide luminescence

The preparation, characterization and photophysical properties of heterobinuclear complexes {pt(C boolean AND N boolean AND N)(C=Cbpy)}Ln(hfac)(3) (C boolean AND N boolean AND N = 2-(6-(naphthalen-3-yl)-4-phenylpyridin-2-yl)pyridine; HC=Cbpy = 5-ethynyl-2,2'-bipyridine; Ln = Nd, Eu, Yb: hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) are described. With excitation at 390 <= lambda(ex) <= 500 nm which is the MLCT/LLCT absorption region of the Pt(C boolean AND N boolean AND N)(C=Cbpy) chromophore, lanthanide luminescence is successfully attained by Pt -> Ln energy transfer from the platinum(II) antenna chromophore to the lanthanide center across the bridging C=Cbpy ligand. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.