Photoinduced Ru–Yb energy transfer and sensitised near-IR luminescence in a coordination polymer containing co-crystallised [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2− and Yb(III) units

Co-crystallisation of the anionic cyanometallate chromophore [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2− with Yb(III) provides coordination polymers or oligomers containing Ru–CN–Yb bridges; in [K(H2O)4][Yb(H2O)6][Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2·5H2O Ru → Yb energy-transfer (k > 5 × 106 s−1) results in partial quenching of the Ru-based luminescence and sensitised near-IR luminescence from the Yb(III) unit.