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Updated: Nov 1, 2025

A Novel Technique for Generating and Observing Chemiluminescence in a Biological Setting
Published on: March 9, 2017
Bright luminescent lithium and magnesium carbene complexes
Piermaria Pinter1, Christoph M Schüßlbauer1,2, Fabian A Watt3
1Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg Egerlandstr. 1-3 D-91058 Erlangen Germany.
Abstract:
We report on the convenient synthesis of a CNC pincer ligand composed of carbazole and two mesoionic carbenes, as well as the corresponding lithium- and magnesium complexes. Mono-deprotonation affords a rare "naked" amide anion. In contrast to the proligand and its mono-deprotonated form, tri-deprotonated s-block complexes show bright luminescence, and their photophysical properties were therefore investigated by absorption- and luminescence spectroscopy. They reveal a quantum yield of 16% in solution at ambient temperature. Detailed quantum-chemical calculations assist in rationalizing the emissive properties based on an Intra-Ligand-Charge-Transfer (ILCT) between the carbazolido- and mesoionic carbene ligands. (Earth-)alkali metals prevent the distortion of the ligand following excitation and, thus, by avoiding non-radiative deactivation support bright luminescence.
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