Micellar effect on the photophysics of heteroleptic ruthenium(II)-phenanthrolinedisulfonato complexes

Luminescent heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes of type RuLnX3-n [L= 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), X = 4,7 diphenyl phenanthroline disulfonate, (dpsphen) n = 0,1,2,3] were synthesized and their photophysical properties investigated in homogeneous and cationic (CTAB), anionic (SDS) and nonionic (Triton X-100) micelles. The luminescent quantum yield and lifetime of the complexes were found to increase in the presence of micellar media and on the introduction of a disulfonate ligand into the coordination sphere. Both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions play an important role in the micellar media. Thus, by changing the nature of the ligands and the medium, we were able to tune the photophysical properties of Ru(II) complexes. Copyright (C) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.