Photoinduced electron transfer and energy transfer reactions of hydroxo-(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine) platinum(II)

The luminescent complex [Pt(terpy)OH]BF4 undergoes photoinduced electron transfer reactions with phenyl amine electron donors and nitrophenyl electron acceptors. Stern–Volmer analysis of the quenching of metal-to-ligand charge transfer phosphorescence (3MLCT) was used to calculate bimolecular rate constants for electron transfer. Rate constants vary from 108 to >1010 M−1 s−1, depending on the thermodynamic driving force of the electron transfer reaction, with rate constants indicating that [Pt(terpy)OH]BF4* is a powerful photo-oxidant. Aromatic triplet energy acceptors can also quench the 3MLCT emission.