Highly electron-deficient 1-propyl-3,5-dinitropyridinium: evaluation of electron-accepting ability and application as an oxidative quencher for metal complexes

Abstract

Impacts of the nitro groups on the electron-accepting and oxidizing abilities of N-propylpyridinium were evaluated quantitatively. A 3,5-dinitro derivative has efficiently quenched emission from photosensitizing Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes owing to the thermodynamically-favored electron transfer to the pyridinium whose LUMO is greatly lowered by the presence of electron-withdrawing nitro groups.