Photochemical activation and reactivity of polynuclear transition-metal-complex molecules. Progress report, June 1981-May 31, 1982

Significant results obtained during the year are summarized for the following programs: (1) reversible, two electron transfer at a single potential in binuclear complexes; (2) photophysics of polyketonate complexes; (3) synthetic strategies and characterization of heavy metal heterobinuclear complexes; (4) high yield synthesis of ligands capable of binding 3 and 4 metal ions per molecule. Electrochemical studies have uncovered a number of new binuclear metal complexes that undergo reversible two-electron reduction at single potential including Cu(II) complexes with two different coordination environments, mixed Ni(II), Cu(II) complexes and binuclear Ni(II) complexes. In each case the species that exhibit these electron transfer properties have been shown to be Na/sup +/ ion-paired complexes. Several new trinuclear molecular complexes have been prepared and characterized that contain two UO/sub 2//sup 2 +/ ions and one transition metal ion. The electrochemistry, absorption spectra, and luminescence have been investigated.