Electronic energy transfer in dinuclear metal complexes containing meta-substituted phenylene units

Abstract

Abstract The synthesis and photophysical properties of heterometallic dinuclear complexes based on ruthenium and osmium trisbipyridine units, Ru- m Ph 3 -Os and Ru- m Ph 5 -Os, in which the metal complexes are linked via an oligophenylene bridge centrally connected in the meta position, are described. Electronic energy transfer from the excited ruthenium-based component (donor) to the osmium moiety (acceptor) has been investigated using steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy. The results obtained for the meta -substituted compounds are compared with the analogous systems in which the phenylene spacers are substituted in the para position. The mechanism of energy transfer is discussed.