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Chiral transition-metal complexes are of interest in many fields ranging from asymmetric catalysis and molecular materials science to optoelectronic applications or fundamental physics including parity violation effects. We present here a combined theoretical and experimental investigation of gas-phase valence-shell photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) on the challenging open-shell ruthenium( iii )-tris-(acetylacetonato) complex, Ru(acac) 3 . Enantiomerically pure Δ- or Λ-Ru(acac) 3 , characterized by electronic circular dichroism (ECD), were vaporized and adiabatically expanded to produce a supersonic beam and photoionized by circularly-polarized VUV light from the DESIRS beamline at Synchrotron SOLEIL. Photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and PECD experiments were conducted using a double imaging electron/ion coincidence spectrometer, and compared to density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations. The open-shell character of Ru(acac) 3 , which is not taken into account in our DFT approach, is expected to give rise to a wide multiplet structure, which is not resolved in our PES signals but whose presence might be inferred from the additional striking features observed in the PECD curves. Nevertheless, the DFT-based assignment of the electronic bands leads to the characterisation of the ionized orbitals. In line with other recent works, the results confirm that PECD persists independently on the localization and/or on the achiral or chiral nature of the initial orbital, but is rather a probe of the molecular potential as a whole. Overall, the measured PECD signals on Ru(acac) 3 , a system exhibiting D 3 propeller-type chirality, are of similar magnitude compared to those on asymmetric-carbon-based chiral organic molecules which constitute the vast majority of species investigated so far, thus suggesting that PECD is a universal mechanism, inherent to any type of chirality. 

The calculation of magnetic transition dipole moments and rotatory strengths was implemented at the zeroth‐order regular approximation (ZORA) two‐component relativistic time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) level. The circular dichroism of the spin‐forbidden ligand‐field transitions of tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) computed in this way agrees very well with available measurements. Phosphorescence dissymmetry factorsand the corresponding lifetimes are evaluated for three N‐heterocyclic‐carbene‐based iridium complexes, two of which contain helicene moieties, and for two platinahelicenes. The agreement with experimental data is satisfactory. The calculations reproduce the signs and order of magnitude of, and the large variations of phosphorescence lifetimes among the systems. The electron spin contribution to the magnetic transition dipole moment is shown to be important in all of the computations.

 

The photophysical and chiroptical properties of a novel, chiral helicene‐NHC−Re(I) complex bearing anN‐(aza[6]helicenyl)‐benzimidazolylidene ligand are described, showing its ability to emit yellow circularly polarized luminescence. A comparative analysis of this new system with other helicene‐Re(I) complexes reported to date illustrates the impact of structural modifications on the emissive and absorptive properties.

 

π-Helical push–pull dyes were prepared and their (chir)optical properties were investigated both experimentally and computationally. Specific fluorescent behaviour of bis-substituted system was observed with unprecedented solvent effect on the intensity of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL, dissymmetry factor decreasing from 10 −2 to 10 −3 with an increase in solvent polarity) that was linked to a change in symmetry of chiral excited state and suppression of interbranched exciton coupling. The results highlight the potential of CPL spectroscopy to study and provide a deeper understanding of electronic photophysical processes in chiral π-conjugated molecules. 

By attaching pyridine groups to a diaza[6]helicene, a helical, bis‐ditopic, bis‐N N‐coordinating ligand can be accessed. Dinuclear rhenium complexes featuring this bridging ligand, of the form [{Re(CO)₃Cl}₂(N N−N N)], have been prepared and resolved to give enantiopure complexes. These complexes are phosphorescent in solution at room temperature under one‐ and two‐photon excitation. Their experimental chiroptical properties (optical rotation, electronic circular dichroism and circularly polarized emission) have been measured. They show, for instance, emission dissymmetry factors of c.a. ±3x10⁻³. Quantum‐chemical calculations indicate the importance of stereochemistry on the optical activity, pointing towards further design improvements in such types of complexes.

 

The charged, electroactive bipyridine‐helicene‐ruthenium(III) complex [4]^.+,PF₆⁻has been prepared from 3‐(2‐pyridyl)‐4‐aza[6]helicene and a Ru‐bis‐(β‐diketonato)‐bis‐acetonitrile precursor (β‐diketonato: 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐3,5‐heptanedionato). Its chiroptical properties (electronic circular dichroism and optical rotation) were studied both experimentally and theoretically and suggest the presence of 2 diastereoisomers, namely (P,Δ)‐ and (P,Λ)‐[4]^.+,PF₆⁻(denoted jointly as (P,Δ*)‐[4]^.+,PF₆⁻) and their mirror‐images (M,Λ)‐ and (M,Δ)‐[4]^.+,PF₆⁻((M,Δ*)‐[4]^.+,PF₆⁻). The electrochemical reduction of (P,Δ*)‐[4]^.+,PF₆⁻to neutral complex (P,Δ*)‐4was performed and revealed strong changes in the UV‐vis and electronic circular dichroism spectra. A reversible redox‐triggered chiroptical switching process was then achieved.

 

The first enantiopure chiral‐at‐rhenium complexes of the formfac‐ReX(CO)₃(:C^N) have been prepared, where :C^N is a helicene‐N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand and X=Cl or I. These have complexes show strong changes in the emission characteristics, notably strongly enhanced phosphorescence lifetimes (reaching 0.7 ms) and increased circularly polarized emission (CPL) activity, as compared to their parent chiral models lacking the helicene unit. The halogen along with its position within the dissymmetric stereochemical environment strongly affect the photophysics of the complexes, particularly the phosphorescence quantum yield and lifetime. These results give fresh insight into fine tuning of photophysical and chiroptical properties of Re‐NHC systems.

 

The first enantiopure chiral‐at‐rhenium complexes of the formfac‐ReX(CO)₃(:C^N) have been prepared, where :C^N is a helicene‐N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand and X=Cl or I. These have complexes show strong changes in the emission characteristics, notably strongly enhanced phosphorescence lifetimes (reaching 0.7 ms) and increased circularly polarized emission (CPL) activity, as compared to their parent chiral models lacking the helicene unit. The halogen along with its position within the dissymmetric stereochemical environment strongly affect the photophysics of the complexes, particularly the phosphorescence quantum yield and lifetime. These results give fresh insight into fine tuning of photophysical and chiroptical properties of Re‐NHC systems.