Issue 21, 2021

Bright luminescent lithium and magnesium carbene complexes

Abstract

We report on the convenient synthesis of a CNC pincer ligand composed of carbazole and two mesoionic carbenes, as well as the corresponding lithium- and magnesium complexes. Mono-deprotonation affords a rare “naked” amide anion. In contrast to the proligand and its mono-deprotonated form, tri-deprotonated s-block complexes show bright luminescence, and their photophysical properties were therefore investigated by absorption- and luminescence spectroscopy. They reveal a quantum yield of 16% in solution at ambient temperature. Detailed quantum-chemical calculations assist in rationalizing the emissive properties based on an Intra-Ligand-Charge-Transfer (ILCT) between the carbazolido- and mesoionic carbene ligands. (Earth-)alkali metals prevent the distortion of the ligand following excitation and, thus, by avoiding non-radiative deactivation support bright luminescence.

Graphical abstract: Bright luminescent lithium and magnesium carbene complexes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
10 Feb 2021
Accepted
15 Apr 2021
First published
15 Apr 2021
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 7401-7410

Bright luminescent lithium and magnesium carbene complexes

P. Pinter, C. M. Schüßlbauer, F. A. Watt, N. Dickmann, R. Herbst-Irmer, B. Morgenstern, A. Grünwald, T. Ullrich, M. Zimmer, S. Hohloch, D. M. Guldi and D. Munz, Chem. Sci., 2021, 12, 7401 DOI: 10.1039/D1SC00846C

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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