The remarkable luminescence properties of the platinum(II) complex of 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene, acting as a terdentate N=C=N-coordinating ligand cyclometalated at C2 of the benzene ring ([PtL(1)Cl]), have been investigated, together with those of two new 5-substituted analogues [PtL(2)Cl] and [PtL(3)Cl] [HL(2) = methyl-3,5-di(2-pyridyl)benzoate; HL(3) = 3,5-di(2-pyridyl)toluene]. All three complexes are intense emitters in degassed solution at 298 K (lambda(max) 480-580 nm; phi(lum) = 0.60, 0.58, and 0.68 in CH(2)Cl(2)), displaying highly structured emission spectra in dilute solution, with lifetimes in the microsecond range (7.2, 8.0, and 7.8 micros). On the basis of the very small Stokes shift, the highly structured profiles, and the relatively long lifetimes, the emission is attributed to an excited state of primarily (3)pi-pi character. At concentrations >1 x 10(-)(5) M, structureless excimer emission centered at ca. 700 nm is observed. The X-ray crystal structure of [PtL(2)Cl] is also reported.

A comprehensive photophysical investigation has been carried out on a series of eight complexes of the type (diimine)Pt(-C=C-Ar)(2), where diimine is a series of 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) ligands and -C=C-Ar is a series of substituted aryl acetylide ligands. In one series of complexes, the energy of the Pt --> bpy metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited state is varied by changing the substituents on the 4,4'- and/or the 5,5'-positions of the bpy ligand. In a second series of complexes the electronic demand of the aryl acetylide ligand is varied by changing the para substituent (X) on the aryl ring (X = -CF(3), -CH(3), -OCH(3), and -N(CH(3))(2)). The effect of variation of the substituents on the excited states of the complexes has been assessed by examining their UV-visible absorption, variable-temperature photoluminescence, transient absorption, and time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. In addition, the nonradiative decay rates of the series of complexes are subjected to a quantitative energy gap law analysis. The results of this study reveal that in most cases the photophysics of the complexes is dominated by the energetically low lying Pt --> bpy (3)MLCT state. Some of the complexes also feature a low-lying intraligand (IL) (3)pi,pi excited state that is derived from transitions between pi- and pi-type orbitals localized largely on the aryl acetylide ligands. The involvement of the IL (3)pi,pi state in the photophysics of some of the complexes is signaled by unusual features in the transient absorption, time-resolved infrared, and photoluminescence spectra and in the excited-state decay kinetics. The time-resolved infrared difference spectroscopy indicates that Pt --> bpy MLCT excitation induces a +25 to + 35 cm(-)(1) shift in the frequency of the C=C stretching band. This is the first study to report the effect of MLCT excitation on the vibrational frequency of an acetylide ligand.

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This work explores time-resolved emission imaging microscopy (TREM) for noninvasive imaging and mapping of live cells on a hitherto uncharted microsecond time scale. Simple robust molecules for this purpose have long been sought. We have developed highly emissive, synthetically versatile, and photostable platinum(II) complexes that make TREM a practicable reality. fluorescence microscopy ͉ time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy ͉ transition metal complexes ͉ cyclometalation

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) exploits light-activated compounds for therapeutic use. It relies on a photosensitiser (PS) that is inactive in the absence of light. When irradiated, the PS absorbs light and is promoted to a higher energy, "excited" state (PS*), which is either toxic to cells in itself, or triggers formation of other species which are toxic to cells, and hence particular wavelengths of light can be used to induce light-dependent cell killing. In PDT occurring via the so-called type I and type II mechanisms, the PS* engages in energy transfer to dioxygen present in cells and tissues. This process generates highly reactive singlet oxygen (1 O2) and/or other reactive oxygen species (ROS) which in turn cause damage in the immediate vicinity of irradiation, and ultimately can lead to cell death. Whilst the main focus of research for the last 50 years has been on organic molecules or porphyrins as sensitisers, there is now emerging interest in extending the use of transition metal (TM) complexes can display intense absorption in the visible region, and many also possess high two-photon absorption crosssections, which enable two-photon excitation with NIR light. As with any other type of photosensitiser, the issues to consider whilst designing a TM complex as a photosensitiser include cell permeability, efficient absorption of NIR light for deeper penetration, preferential affinity to cancer cells over healthy cells, targeted intracellular localisation, and lack of side effects. This review summarises recent developments involving photosensitisers containing, Ru(II), Os(II), Pt, Ir(III), and Re(I), and the approaches used to address the above requirements. Several remarkable recent advances made in this area, including the first clinical trial of a metal complex as a photosensitiser, indicate the bright future of this class of compounds in PDT.

Electron transfer (ET) from donor to acceptor is often mediated by nuclear-electronic (vibronic) interactions in molecular bridges. Using an ultrafast electronic-vibrational-vibrational pulse-sequence, we demonstrate how the outcome of light-induced ET can be radically altered by mode-specific infrared (IR) excitation of vibrations that are coupled to the ET pathway. Picosecond narrow-band IR excitation of high-frequency bridge vibrations in an electronically excited covalent trans-acetylide platinum(II) donor-bridge-acceptor system in solution alters both the dynamics and the yields of competing ET pathways, completely switching a charge separation pathway off. These results offer a step toward quantum control of chemical reactivity by IR excitation.

Lifetime imaging microscopy with sub-micron resolution provides essential understanding of living systems by allowing both the visualisation of their structure, and the sensing of bio-relevant analytes in vivo using external probes. Chemistry is pivotal for the development of the next generation of bio-tools, where contrast, sensitivity, and molecular specificity facilitate observation of processes fundamental to life. A fundamental limitation at present is the nanosecond lifetime of conventional fluorescent probes which typically confines the sensitivity to sub-nanosecond changes, whilst nanosecond background autofluorescence compromises the contrast. High-resolution visualization with complete background rejection and simultaneous mapping of bio-relevant analytes including oxygenwith sensitivity orders of magnitude higher than that currently attainablecan be achieved using time-resolved emission imaging microscopy (TREM) in conjunction with probes with microsecond (or longer) lifetimes. Yet the microsecond timescale has so far been incompatible with available multiphoton excitation/detection technologies. Here we realize for the first time microsecondimaging with multiphoton excitation whilst maintaining the essential sub-micron spatial resolution. The new method is background-free and expands available imaging and sensing timescales 1000-fold. Exploiting the first engineered water-soluble member of a family of remarkably emissive platinum-based, microsecond-lived probes amongst others, we demonstrate (i) the first instance of background-free multiphoton-excited microsecond depth imaging of live cells and histological tissues, (ii) over an order-of-magnitude variation in the probe lifetime in vivo in response to the local microenvironment. The concept of two-photon TREM can be seen as "FLIM + PLIM" as it can be used on any timescale, from ultrafast fluorescence of organic molecules to slower emission of transition metal complexes or lanthanides/actinides, and combinations thereof. It brings together transition metal complexes as versatile emissive probes with the new multiphoton-excitation/ microsecond-detection approach to create a transformative framework for multiphoton imaging and sensing across biological, medicinal and material sciences.

Nuclear-electronic (vibronic) coupling is increasingly recognized as a mechanism of major importance in controlling the light-induced function of molecular systems. It was recently shown that infrared light excitation of intramolecular vibrations can radically change the efficiency of electron transfer, a fundamental chemical process. We now extend and generalize the understanding of this phenomenon by probing and perturbing vibronic coupling in several molecules in solution. In the experiments an ultrafast electronic-vibrational pulse sequence is applied to a range of donor-bridge-acceptor Pt(II) trans-acetylide assemblies, for which infrared excitation of selected bridge vibrations during ultraviolet-initiated charge separation alters the yields of light-induced product states. The experiments, augmented by quantum chemical calculations, reveal a complex combination of vibronic mechanisms responsible for the observed changes in electron transfer rates and pathways. The study raises new fundamental questions about the function of vibrational processes immediately following charge transfer photoexcitation, and highlights the molecular features necessary for external vibronic control of excited-state processes.