Neutral cuprous complexes as ratiometric oxygen gas sensors

Abstract

Four neutral mononuclear Cu(I) complexes, [Cu(pyin)(PPh(3))(2)] (1a), [Cu(pyin)(DPEphos)] (1b), [Cu(quin)(PPh(3))(2)] (2a) and [Cu(quin)(DPEphos)] (2b) (Hpyin = 2-(2-pyridyl)indole, Hquin = 2-(2-quinolyl)indole and DPEphos = bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)ether) have been synthesized. X-Ray crystal structure analysis revealed that the central Cu(I) ion in all complexes is in a distorted tetrahedral coordination environment. All four complexes display the typical metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption band at 371, 363, 413 and 402 nm, respectively. No emission was observed from any complexes in the solid state due to triplet-triplet annihilation. However, the complexes show unusual dual-emission originating from intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) and MLCT transitions, when dispersed in a rigid matrix (e.g. PMMA) or in frozen CH(2)Cl(2). The oxidation potential of Cu(I)/Cu(II) in these neutral complexes, ∼0.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), is lower than those of cationic Cu(I) complexes. Films containing 10 wt% of these complexes in PMMA shows ratiometric fluorescent oxygen gas sensing property with a response ratio of 0.3-3.2 and response time of 3-4 s. Complex 2b acts as a ratiometric oxygen gas sensor with good reversibility through energy and electron transfer mechanisms under the loss of a counteranion.