Excited State Processes in Transition Metal Complexes, Redox Splitting in Soluble Polymers

The photochemical and photophysical properties of polypyridyl complexes of Ru, Os, and Re have been investigated by transient absorption, emission, resonance raman and infrared spectroscopies. The latter technique has been especially useful in defining the acceptor ligand in metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited states and probing the details of excited state electronic and molecular structure. Derivatives of these complexes have been attached to soluble polystyrene polymers. In the resulting metal complex polymer composites it has been possible to demonstrate long range energy transfer and the existence of an antenna effect and create a mimic for the active site in the photosynthetic membrane.