The project involves planning activities for the design, synthesis, and study of novel multimetallic complexes withdesirable light absorbing and electrochemical properties. Mixed-metal multimetallic complexes of the platinum group metals (Rh, Ir, Os, Ru) which incorporate polypyridyl bridging ligands will be synthesized. These systems are expected to have very complex electronic spectra and electrochemistry due to their multicomponent nature. The electronic spectra will contain transitions well into the visible region of the spectrum, due primarily to low energy metal-to-ligand charge transfer transitions. In addition, intense pi-pi star transitions will be evident in the ultraviolet region for all polypridyl ligands contained in the system. The electrochemistry of these systems is expected to be dominated by metal-based oxidations and bridging and nonbridging ligand- based reductions. For systems containing rhodium or iridium, metal-based reductions are also expected at relatively low potentials. Through the systematic variation of the metals as well as bridging and non-bridging ligands, it will be possible to gain insight into the nature of the photochemical and electrochemical processes. %%% Research Planning Grants enable women who have not had prior independent Federal research support to develop a competitive research proposal. This project involves the study of the photochemical and electrochemical properties of metal complexes containing more than one metal center. The knowledge gained in this study will enable better design and preparation of mixed-metal complexes with specific light-absorbing properties.
