An Investigation of the Photochemical Properties of Transition Metal Arene Complexes

9307837 Mann This project, supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program, is concerned with the synthesis, chemical reactivity, and photochemical and photophysical behavior of cyclopentadienyl-arene ruthenium and osmium complexes. The primary objective of these studies is to understand and control the partitioning of reactivity between the metal and the arene ligand in the photochemically excited state. Syntheses of the previously unknown osmium complexes will be done using newly developed electron transfer catalyzed methods. The arenes to be utilized will include a variety of laser dye molecules as well as oligothiophenes. Characterization methods will include infrared and optical spectroscopies, quantum yields, variable temperature luminescence lifetimes, and laser-flash photolysis studies of electron transfer reactions. These studies may lead to improved optical and conductive devices. %%% New transition metal molecules will be prepared and characterized for their chemical and photochemical reactivity. Knowledge gained in these studies is expected to have technological importance for new optical and electrically conductive devices. ***