Sensitised near-infrared luminescence from lanthanide(III) centres using Re(I) and Pt(II) diimine complexes as energy donors in d-f dinuclear complexes based on 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine

The luminescent transition metal complexes [Re(CO)3Cl(bppz)] and [Pt(CC-C6H4CF3)2(bppz)] [bppz = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine], in which one of the diimine binding sites of the potentially bridging ligand bppz is vacant, have been used as 'complex ligands' to make heterodinuclear d-f complexes by attachment of a {Ln(dik)3} fragment (dik = a 1,3-diketonate) at the vacant site. When Ln = Pr, Nd, Er or Yb the lanthanide centre has low-energy f-f excited states capable of accepting energy from the 3MLCT excited state of the Pt(ii) or Re(i) centre, quenching the 3MLCT luminescence and affording sensitised lanthanide(iii)-based luminescence in the near-IR region. UV/Vis and luminescence spectroscopic titrations allowed measurement of (i) the association constants for binding of the {Ln(dik)3} fragment at the vacant diimine site of [Re(CO)3Cl(bppz)] or [Pt(CC-C6H 4CF3)2(bppz)], and (ii) the degree of quenching of the 3MLCT luminescence according to the nature of the Ln(iii) centre. In all cases Nd(iii) was found to be the most effective of the series at quenching the 3MLCT luminescence of the d-block component because the high density of f-f excited states of the appropriate energy make it a particularly effective energy-acceptor. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2007.