Direct tyrosine oxidation using the MLCT excited states of rhenium polypyridyl complexes

Rhenium(I) polypyridyl complexes have been designed for the intramolecular photogeneration of tyrosyl radical. Tyrosine (Y) and phenylalanine (F) have each been separately appended to a conventional Re-1(bpy)(CO)(3)CN framework via an amide linkage to the bipyridine (bpy) ligand. Comparative time-resolved emission quenching and transient absorption spectra of Re(bpy-Y)(CO)(3)CN and Re(bpy-F)(CO)(3)CN show that Y is oxidized only upon its deprotonation at pH 12. In an effort to redirect electron transport so that it is more compatible with intramolecular Y oxidation, polypyridyl Re-1 complexes have been prepared with the amide bond functionality located on a pendant phosphine ligand. A [Re(phen)(PP-Bn)(CO)(2)](PF6) (PP = bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene) complex has been synthesized and crystallographically characterized. Electrochemistry and phosphorescence measurements of this complex indicate a modest excited-state potential for tyrosine oxidation, similar to that for the (bpy)Re-1(CO)(3)CN framework. The excited-state oxidation potential can be increased by introducing a monodentate phosphine to the Re-1(NN)(CO)(3)(+) framework (NN = polypyridyl). In this case, Y is oxidized at all pHs when appended to the triphenylphosphine (P) of [Re(phen)(P-Y)(CO3)](PF6). Analysis of the pH dependence of the rate constant for tyrosyl radical generation is consistent with a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) quenching mechanism.