Excited-State Kinetics of an Air-Stable Cyclometalated Iron(II) Complex

Iron as substitute for noble metals in photoactive compounds is a desired aim in photochemical research. By development of a new synthesis route, the first photophysical characterization of cyclometalated iron(II) complexes could be achieved. In comparison to the related complex, [Fe(tpy)(2)](2+), without a cyclometalating ligand, the lifetime of the photochemically relevant MLCT state could be increased by a factor of 5.5. With the results summarized in the cover, the lack of experimental data on such complexes could be eliminated and the way to a new ligand design strategy was opened. More information can be found in the Communication by M. Bauer et al. (DOI: 10.1002/chem.201902488).