Linkage Isomerization via Geminate Cage or Bimolecular Mechanisms: Time-Resolved Investigations of an Organometallic Photochrome.

The extent of the photoinitiated linkage isomerization of dicarbonyl(3-cyanomethylpyridine-κN)(η(5)-methylcyclopentadienyl)manganese (4) to dicarbonyl(3-cyano-κN-methylpyridine)(η(5)-methylcyclopentadienyl)manganese (5) was examined by time-resolved infrared spectroscopy on picosecond to microsecond time scales in room temperature isooctane to determine the extent the isomerization occurs as a geminate cage rearrangement. We previously reported that a substantial part of the conversion between 4 and 5 must be a bimolecular reaction between a solvent coordinated dicarbonyl(η(5)-methylcyclopentadienyl)manganese (3) and uncoordinated 3-cyanomethylpyridine. For the purpose of designing a molecular device, it would be desirable for the photoisomerization to occur in a geminate cage reaction, because the faster the isomerization, the less opportunity for side reactions to occur.

Development of ultrafast photochromic organometallics and photoinduced linkage isomerization of arene chromium carbonyl derivatives.

We review recent studies of processes relevant to photoinduced linkage isomerization of organometallic systems with the goal of preparing organometallics with an efficient and ultrafast photochromic response. The organometallic system thus corresponds to two linkage isomers with different electronic environments that are responsible for different optical properties. Much of this work has focused on examining processes following irradiation of cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl derivatives (compounds 3-21) including solvent coordination, thermal relaxation, solvent displacement by tethered functional groups (chelation), dissociation of tethered functional groups, and linkage isomerization.

Ultrafast chelation dynamics of a manganese tricarbonyl derivative in solid polyacrylonitrile.

Ultraviolet pump, infrared probe transient absorption studies of the chelatable compound 1, Mn{eta(5)-C(5)H(4)C(O)C(SCH(3))3}(CO)3, dispersed in room temperature, spin-coated polyacryclonitrile (PAN) films (approximately 25 microm thick on a CaF2 surface) are reported for the first time. Irradiation of 1 at 289 nm induces CO loss with high yield and generates the Mn-S bound chelate within 160 ps. There is no evidence for undesirable matrix cage CO recombination or secondary competing solvation pathways for this system, which may serve as the basis for future solid-state photoswitches.

Solvent and structural effects on ultrafast chelation dynamics of arene chromium tricarbonyl sulfide derivatives.

The chelation dynamics of three new [Cr{eta6-C6H5C(O)R}(CO)3] complexes, 1 [R = CH2(SCH3)], 2 [R = CH(SCH3)2], and 3 [R = C(SCH3)3], has been investigated on the picosecond to millisecond time scales by UV pump/IR probe transient absorption spectroscopy following photodissociation of CO in room temperature n-heptane, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and acetonitrile. In n-heptane, UV irradiation of 1, 2, or 3 dissociates CO to initially yield a Cr-S chelate (in which the pendant sulfide moiety is coordinated to the metal center) and a transient Cr-heptane solvate in approximately 1:2, 1:2, and 2:1 ratios, respectively. The Cr-heptane solvate is unstable and converts to the Cr-S chelate within 30 ns in each case.

Time-resolved infrared absorption study of cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl derivatives: Chelation of pendant sulfides in acetonitrile.

The chelation dynamics of [Mn{eta5-C5H4C(O)R}(CO)3] complexes 1 (R = CH2(SCH3)), 2 (R = CH(SCH3)2), and 3 (R = C(SCH3)3) in room-temperature acetonitrile solution have been investigated on the picosecond time scale by UV-pump IR-probe transient absorption spectroscopy. Similar to the previously observed behavior in n-heptane solution, irradiation of 3 in acetonitrile at 289 nm induces CO loss to exclusively yield a Mn-S chelated dicarbonyl product. Unlike the behavior of 1 and 2 in n-hexane and n-heptane solutions, UV excitation of either 1 or 2 in acetonitrile solution induces CO loss to also exclusively yield the chelated products, with no evidence of a competing solvation pathway.