Supramolecular assembly of metal-ligand chromophores for sensing and phosphorescent OLED applications

The exploration of phosphorescent materials based on transition metal-ligand chromophoric complexes represents an important area of research in molecular materials. The knowledge and fundamental understanding of their photophysical properties offer a possible fine-tuning of their electronic absorption and luminescence properties. The strong propensity of d⁸ transition metal compounds to form non-covalent metal··· metal interactions facilitates supramolecular assembly and the formation of supramolecular nanostructures with interesting photophysical properties. The introduction of supramolecular assembly with hierarchical complexity involving non-covalent interactions could lead to research dimensions of unlimited possibilities and opportunities. This article briefly summarizes the latest progress on the use of d⁸ metal-ligand chromophores as chemosensors, as exemplified by alkynylplatinum(II) complexes with emphasis on supramolecular assembly involving non-covalent interactions, and the recent advances in the utilization of d⁸ metal-ligand phosphors, as exemplified by alkynylgold(III) system, for the exploration and development of phosphorescent OLEDs. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.