Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of modular platinum(II) terpyridine phosphorescent pockets.

A modular design approach has been utilized to develop molecular 'pockets' featuring three integrated components, namely a phosphorescent Pt(II)-pi(organic) moiety, a suitable receptor group, and a rigid, conjugated connecting backbone, and the cavities therein are examined by NMR spectroscopy and an X-ray crystal structure. Their photophysical properties have been investigated; unusually for Pt-terpyridine derivatives, the complexes are luminescent (near-red (3)MLCT emission) in solution at room temperature. It has been shown that their emissive characteristics are affected by the nature of the backbone component but not the receptor group.