New preparative routes to 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine and 5-substituted 5,6-dihydro-6-hydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline complexes of Re(I) carbonyls

Luminescent transition-metal polyimine complexes are utilized in numerous applications, including luminescent sensors and probes, activation of CO 2 and photocatalysis, photovoltaics, and solar energy conversion and storage. What makes the complexes so versatile for so many applications is that their photophysical and photochemical properties can be synthetically programmed by (1) placing electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents on the polyimine (chromophoric) ligand, (2) by varying the non-chromophoric ligands in the coordination sphere, (3) by varying the choice of chromophoric ligand, and/or (4) by changing the metal itself. Synthesis of new complexes that incorporate such changes contributes to the availability of building blocks for the aforementioned applications.; This work examines the effects of several of the above variations in the luminescent polycarbonyl complexes of Re(I), specifically focusing on the synthesis and characterization of new 5,6-dihydro-5-substituted-6-hydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline ligands and their complexes, and new Re(I) polycarbonyl mixed-ligand "black" chromophores of 2,2':6',2 ″-terpyridine.