Picosecond dynamics of solvent trapping following electron transfer in transition-metal complexes

Abstract

Picosecond Raman spectroscopy has been used to investigate electron transfer between ligands in the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer states of D3 transition-metal complexes. In all of the complexes studied, dynamic solvent effects on the electron-transfer process are shown to be minimal. The interligand electron coupling is apparently not strong enough to overcome the vibrational reorganization energy. As a result, delocalization of electron density over all three ligands cannot occur. An interpretation of the mechanisms responsible for producing this result is presented based on quantum mechanical electron-transfer theory. © 1989 American Chemical Society.