Manganese(i) complexes with metal-to-ligand charge transfer luminescence and photoreactivity

Precious metal complexes with the d6 valence electron configuration often exhibit luminescent metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited states, which form the basis for many applications in lighting, sensing, solar cells and synthetic photochemistry. Iron(ii) has received much attention as a possible Earth-abundant alternative, but to date no iron(ii) complex has been reported to show MLCT emission upon continuous-wave excitation. Manganese(i) has the same electron configuration as that of iron(ii), but until now has typically been overlooked in the search for cheap MLCT luminophores. Here we report that isocyanide chelate ligands give access to air-stable manganese(i) complexes that exhibit MLCT luminescence in solution at room temperature. These compounds were successfully used as photosensitizers for energy- and electron-transfer reactions and were shown to promote the photoisomerization of trans-stilbene. The observable electron transfer photoreactivity occurred from the emissive MLCT state, whereas the triplet energy transfer photoreactivity originated from a ligand-centred 3π–π* state. Manganese(i) is isoelectronic to iron(ii) but has typically been overlooked as a cheap Earth-abundant metal for the development of 3d6 metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) emitters and photosensitizers. Now, using chelating isocyanide ligands, air-stable manganese(i) complexes have been obtained that exhibit MLCT luminescence, as well as energy- and electron-transfer photoreactivity.