Tracking intramolecular interactions in flexibly linked binuclear Platinum(II) complexes

In this work we describe the synthesis and the photophysical and electrochemical characterization of binuclear PtII complexes. Using a modular click chemistry approach, we decorated different flexible bridging units with (bpy)PtII bisacetylides (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine). Intramolecular excimer formation originating from PtII-Pt II and π-π interactions was investigated by steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy in dilute solution. We observed that linkers bringing the metallic centers in close proximity favor both ground-state coupling and excimer formation. These interactions lead to changes in the photophysical and electrochemical properties, which can be tuned by the choice of solvent.