The pyrene-functionalized cobaloxime–g-C3N4 system was active for hydrogen production in CH3CN–H2O mixed solvent with a highest TON of 281.

Exploration of the complex Ni2(MBD)4 (MBD = 2-mercaptobenzimidazole) (C1) having different coordinated Ni atoms as a photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution is made. For comparison, the bimetallic Ni2(MBT)4 (MBT = 2-mercaptobenthiazole) (C2) complex with the same coordinated Ni atoms was synthesized. Both of the complexes have been successfully constructed for photo-induced hydrogen production using organic dyes as photosensitizers and triethanolamine (TEOA) as the effective electron donor by visible light (>400 nm) in acetonitrile-water solution. The time-dependence of H2 generation and DFT computational studies demonstrate that the complex C1 is more active than C2 for H2 evolution. The mechanisms of photocatalytic hydrogen generation for C1 and C2 involve different protonation sites resulting from the differences between the two structures.

A series of platinum(II) complexes with 1,3-bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindoline (BPI) derivatives were prepared by substitution of the coordinated Cl in the precursor complex Pt(BPI)Cl with a N-heterocyclic ligand such as pyridine, phthalazine or phenanthridine. These complexes display orange to red luminescence in fluid dichloromethane solutions and in the solid states at room temperature. The photophysical properties were tuned by introducing electron-withdrawing -NO(2) or electron-donating -NH(2) to the BPI ligand. The DFT computational studies suggest that the emission in the N-heterocyclic ligand substituted platinum(II) complexes originates mainly from the (3)[π→π*(BPI)] (3)IL triplet excited state, mixed with some (3)[dπ(Pt)→π*(BPI)] (3)MLCT character. Compared with the precursor Pt(BPI)Cl, both the low-energy absorption and the emission in the N-heterocyclic ligand substituted platinum(II) complexes exhibits a distinct blue-shift due to an obviously enhanced contribution from the (3)IL state and a reduced (3)MLCT character.