Deep?Red Luminescent Molybdenum(0) Complexes with Bi? and Tridentate Isocyanide Chelate Ligands

In octahedral complexes, molybdenum(0) has the same 4d6 valence electron configuration as ruthenium(II), which is beneficial for establishing energetically low-lying metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited states. Those MLCT states often show luminescence, and they can furthermore undergo photoinduced energy reactions that are of interest in context solar conversion, sensing, or photocatalysis. Molybdenum roughly 100 times more abundant than ruthenium, it seems desirable to increase our fundamental understanding photophysical properties complexes made from non-precious metals. We report here on luminescence behavior two new homoleptic isocyanide one with three bidentate, other tridentate chelate ligands. The key novelty incorporation thiophene units into ligand backbones, causing strongly red-shifted photoluminescence respect comparable isocyanides phenylene backbones. Combined experimental computational studies provide detailed insight this compound class. This work relevant development luminescent compounds possible applications lighting complements current research efforts photoactive transition metal main group elements.