The preparation, characterization and electrochemical and photophysical properties of a series of desymmetrized heteroleptic [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF6] compounds are reported. The complexes incorporate the chelating P^P ligands bis(2-(diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl)ether (POP) and (9,9-dimethyl-9H-xanthene-4,5-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphane) (xantphos), and 6-substituted 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) derivatives with functional groups attached by -(CH2)n- spacers: 6-(2,2'-bipyridin-6-yl)hexanoic acid (1), 6-(5-phenylpentyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (2) and 6-[2-(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3,triazol-1-yl)ethyl]-2,2'-bipyridine (3). [Cu(POP)(1)][PF6], [Cu(xantphos)(1)][PF6], [Cu(POP)(2)][PF6], [Cu(xantphos)(2)][PF6], and [Cu(xantphos)(3)][PF6] have been characterized in solution using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and the single crystal structure of [Cu(xantphos)(3)][PF6].0.5Et2O was determined. The conformation of the 6-[2-(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3,triazol-1-yl)ethyl]-substituent in the [Cu(xantphos)(3)]+ cation is such that the α- and β-CH2 units reside in the xanthene 'bowl' of the xantphos ligand. The 6-substituent desymmetrizes the structure of the [Cu(P^P)(N^N)]+ cation and this has consequences for the interpretation of the solution NMR spectra of the five complexes. The NOESY spectra and EXSY cross-peaks provide insight into the dynamic processes operating in the different compounds. For powdered samples, emission maxima are in the range 542-555 nm and photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) lie in the range 13-28%, and a comparison of PLQYs and decay lifetimes with those of [Cu(xantphos)(6-Mebpy)][PF6] indicate that the introduction of the 6-substituent is not detrimental in terms of the photophysical properties.
Keywords: 2,2′-bipyridine; X-ray diffraction; bisphosphane; copper(I); photophysics.