Spectroelectrochemical and Theoretical Study of [Si(ttpy)](PF): A Potential Polychromatic Electrochromic Dye.

Complexes consisting of earth-abundant main group metals such as silicon with polypyridine ligands are of interest for a variety of optical and electronic applications including as electrochromic colorants. Previous spectroelectrochemical studies with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)silicon(IV) hexafluorophosphate, [Si(bpy)](PF) demonstrated an ability to control the color saturation of the potential electrochromic dye, with the intensity of the dye's green color increasing as the charge state sequentially reduces from 4+ to 1+. In this study, the synthesis of bis(4'-(4-tolyl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine)silicon(IV) hexafluorophosphate, [Si(ttpy)](PF), is reported along with electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical analyses.