Synthesis, characterization and photophysical study of a series of neutral isocyano rhodium(I) complexes with pyridylindolide ligands

Pyridylindole ligand and its chloro substituted derivatives have been synthesized and incorporated into the square planar bis(phenylisocyano) rhodium(I) complexes to give a series of neutral rhodium(I) complexes with general formula of [Rh(X-pyind)(CNR)(2)] (R = 2,6-(CH3)(2)-4-BrC6H2, 2,4-Cl-2-6-(CH3O) C6H2, 2,4,6-Br3C6H2, 2,4,6-Cl3C6H2; L = 2-(2'-pyridyl) indole, 5-chloro-2-(2'-pyridyl) indole, 4,6-dichloro2-(2'-pyridyl) indole). The structures of two complex precursors [Rh(cod)(Cl-pyind)] and [Rh(cod)(Cl-2-pyind)], and the target complex [Rh(pyind)(CNC6H2-2,4-Cl-2-6-(OCH3))(2)] were determined by X-ray crystallography. The UV-vis absorption properties of these complexes and their responses towards the change of temperature were also investigated. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.