Tuning the Structural and Photophysical Properties of Cationic Pt(II) Complexes Bearing Neutral Bis(triazolyl)pyridine Ligands

Abstract

The emission properties of a series of cationic Pt­(II) complexes bearing neutral tridentate 2,6-bis-(1<i>H</i>-1,2,3-triazol-5-yl)­pyridine and monoanionic ancillary ligands (Cl^– or CN^–) are described. By varying the substitution pattern on the 1,2,3-triazole moieties of the tridentate luminophore and the nature of the ancillary ligand, we were able to tune the intermolecular interactions between the complexes and therefore the electronic interactions between the metal centers. Indeed, all the compounds possessing Cl^– as ancillary ligand are nonluminescent at room temperature, while the complexes containing CN^– are luminescent. Interestingly, the π-accepting nature of this ancillary ligand induces Pt­(II)–Pt­(II) interactions irrespectively of bulky substitution patterns on the tridentate ligand