Photoinduced Ru-Yb energy transfer and sensitised near-IR luminescence in a coordination polymer containing co-crystallised [Ru(bipy)(CN)(4)](2-) and Yb(III) units

Co-crystallisation of the anionic cyanometallate chromophore [Ru(bipy)(CN)(4)](2-) with Yb(III) provides coordination polymers or oligomers containing Ru-CN-Yb bridges; in [K(H2O)(4)][Yb(H2O)(6)][Ru(bipy)(CN)(4)](2) . 5H(2)O Ru --> Yb energy-transfer (k > 5 x 10(6) s(-1)) results in partial quenching of the Ru-based luminescence and sensitised near-IR luminescence from the Yb(III) unit.