Synthesis, spectroscopic, electrochemical and computational studies of rhenium(i) tricarbonyl complexes based on bidentate-coordinated 2,6-di(thiazol-2-yl)pyridine derivatives

Abstract

Nine rhenium(I) complexes possessing three carbonyl groups together with a bidentate coordinated 2,6-di(thiazol-2-yl)pyridine derivative were synthesized to examine the impact of structure modification of the triimine ligand on the photophysical, thermal and electrochemical properties of [ReCl(CO)₃(4-Rⁿ-dtpy-κ²N)]. The Re(I) complexes were fully characterized using IR, ¹H and ¹³C, HRMS-ESI and single crystal X-ray analysis. Their thermal properties were evaluated using DSC and TGA measurements. Photoluminescence spectra of [ReCl(CO)₃(4-Rⁿ-dtpy-κ²N)] were investigated in solution and in the solid state, at 298 and 77 K. Both emission wavelengths and quantum yields of [ReCl(CO)₃(4-Rⁿ-dtpy-κ²N)] were found to be structure-related, demonstrating a crucial role of the substituent attached to the 2,6-di(thiazol-2-yl)pyridine skeleton. In order to fully understand the photophysical properties of [ReCl(CO)₃(4-Rⁿ-dtpy-κ²N)], density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations were performed. Furthermore, the complexes which showed appropriate solubility in chloroform were tested as an emissive active layer in OLED devices.