Phosphoryl group as a strong σ-donor anionic phosphine-type ligand: a combined experimental and theoretical study on long-lived room temperature luminescence of the [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(Ph2PO)]+ complex.

A phosphoryl Ru(II) polypyridyl complex was prepared in a one-pot process. Theoretical analysis suggests that the phosphoryl ligand may be viewed as a strong σ-donor anionic phosphine L-type ligand. State-of-the-art free-energy profile calculations on the excited states demonstrate that both favorable thermodynamic and kinetic factors are responsible for the remarkable room temperature luminescence properties of the phosphoryl complex.