Photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer in ruthenium and osmium polyads: insights from theory

Ru(II) and Os(II) complexes (P) of [4'-(p-phenyl)]terpyridyl ligand (ptpy) derivatized with an electron acceptor (A) of the triphenylpyridinium (H3TP+) type have been recently proposed as functional models for electron-transfer (ET) processes in the context of artificial photosynthesis. These inorganic dyads, P-A, are expected to undergo intramolecular photoinduced ET to form a charge separated (CS) state of pivotal interest. To draw a complete picture of possible ET processes, the ground- and excited-state properties of these complexes, both in their native and monoreduced forms, have been studied by the means of density functional theory (DFT). A time-dependent-DFT approach (TDDFT) was used to interpret the electronic spectra, while additional spectroscopic measurements have been carried out in order to complete the available experimental information and to further confirm the theoretical issues. Besides the noticeable quantitative agreement between computed and experimental absorption spectra, our results allow us to clarify, by first principles, the actual nature and interplay of the electronic and geometrical coupling between the acceptor moiety and the photosensitizer. The possibility of a direct (optical) ET from the ground state to the targeted *[P+-A-] CS state is theoretically postulated and found to be consistent with available photophysical data (transient absorption spectroscopy). Concerning backward ET (from the CS state), the occurrence of a quinoidal-like electronic redistribution inherent to the photoreduced acceptor-ligand is proposed to favor efficient charge recombination.