Oxygen and temperature sensitivity of blue to green to yellow light-emitting Pt(II) complexes.

The synthesis and photophysical properties of a series of yellow-green to blue-green emitting heteroleptic, cyclometalated Pt(II)(acac) complexes based on substituted phenylpyridine and tetrahydroquinoline ligands is reported. The luminescence intensities and lifetimes of these compounds were also studied in poly(styrene) films with respect to their responses to oxygen and temperature. Particularly, due to the insensitivity to oxygen quenching, these complexes are promising candidates as inert reference dyes in optical sensors. On the other hand, the Pt(II) complex with 2-(4-bromophenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoline as C^N ligand, displays a strong temperature quenching effect. The distinct response to temperature was additionally calibrated after incorporation in poly(vinylidene chloride-co-acrylonitrile) serving as oxygen-blocking matrix copolymer. The resulting yellow-green-emitting temperature sensor signifies an interesting alternative to the available mostly red emitting temperature-sensitive probes.