Molecular design of transition metal alkynyl complexes as building blocks for luminescent metal-based materials: structural and photophysical aspects.

In this Account, the design and successful isolation of a series of soluble di- and polynuclear alkynyl complexes of selected metals with d(8) and d(10) electronic configurations are described. These organometallic complexes are found to exhibit rich photophysical and photochemical properties that are unique to the presence of the alkynyl ligand. By a systematic variation of the nature of the ligands, the metal centers, and certain structural features, the photophysical properties could be readily varied and their spectroscopic origins elucidated. Some of these complexes have been shown to be ideal building blocks for the design of luminescent organometallic oligomers and metal-based functional materials.