Studies of the isomerization and photophysical properties of a novel 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine-based ligand and its complexes.

A novel 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine-based ligand L and its complexes [ML(2)](ClO(4))(2)·CH(2)Cl(2) (M = Cd 1, Zn 2, Cu 4, Mn 5), [CoL(2)](ClO(4))(2)3, CdLI(2)6 and CdL(SCN)(2)7 were synthesized and fully characterized. The crystal structures of 1-6 were solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The linear absorption and emission properties, and third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of all the complexes were systematically investigated. The equilibrium of the trans- and cis- isomers of L was studied both experimentally and theoretically. The configurations and photophysical properties of the complexes display a large dependence on the choice of metal ions and anions.