Excited state processes involving multiple electron spin centers are crucial elements for both spintronics and quantum information processing. Herein, we describe an addressable excited state mechanism for precise control of electron spin polarization. This mechanism derives from excited state magnetic exchange couplings that occur between the electron spins of a photogenerated electron-hole pair and that of an organic radical. The process is initiated by absorption of a photon followed by ultrafast relaxation within the excited state spin manifold. This leads to dramatic changes in spin polarization between excited states of the same multiplicity. Moreover, this photoinitiated spin polarization process can be "read" spectroscopically using a magnetooptical technique that is sensitive to the excited state electron spin polarizations and allows for the evaluation of wave functions that give rise to these polarizations. This system is unique in that it requires neither intersystem crossing nor magnetic resonance techniques to create dynamic spin-polarization effects in molecules.

Transient absorption and emission spectroscopic studies on a series of diimineplatinum(II) dichalcogenolenes, LPtL', reveal charge-separated dichalcogenolene → diimine charge-transfer (LL'CT) excited-state lifetimes that display a remarkable and nonperiodic dependence on the heteroatoms of the dichalcogenolene ligand. Namely, there is no linear relationship between the observed lifetimes and the principle quantum number of the E donors. The results are explained in terms of heteroatom-dependent singlet-triplet (S-T) energy gaps and anisotropic covalency contributions to the M-E (E = O, S, Se) bonding scheme that control rates of intersystem crossing. For the dioxolene complex, 1-O,O', E(T2) > E(S1) and rapid nonradiative decay occurs from S1 to S0. However, E(T2) ≤ E(S1) for the heavy-atom congeners, and this provides a mechanism for rapid intersystem crossing. Subsequent internal conversion to T1 in 3-S,S produces a long-lived, emissive triplet. The two LPtL' complexes with mixed chalcogen donors and 5-Se,Se show lifetimes intermediate between those of 1-O,O' and 3-S,S.

Control of excited-state processes is crucial to an increasing number of important device technologies that include displays, photocatalysts, solar energy conversion devices, photovoltaics, and photonics. However, the manipulation and control of electronic excited-state lifetimes and properties continue to be a challenge for molecular scientists. Herein, we present the results of ground-state and transient absorption spectroscopies as they relate to magnetic exchange control of excited-state lifetimes. We describe a novel mechanism for controlling these excited-state lifetimes that involves varying the magnetic exchange interaction between a stable organic radical and the unpaired electrons present in the open-shell configuration of a charge-separated excited state. Specifically, we show that the excited-state lifetime can be controlled in a predictable manner based on an a priori knowledge of the pairwise magnetic exchange interactions between excited-state spins. These magnetic exchange couplings affect the excited-state electronic structure in a manner that introduces variable degrees of spin forbiddenness into the nonradiative decay channel between the excited state and the electronic ground state.

The development of chromophores based on earth-abundant transition metals whose photophysical properties are dominated by their chargetransfer excited states has inspired considerable research over the past decade. One challenge associated with this effort is satisfying the dual requirements of a strong ligand field and chemical tunability of the compound's absorptive cross-section. Herein we explore one possible approach using a heteroleptic compositional motif that combines both of these attributes into a single compound. With the parent complex [Fe(phen) 3 ] 2+ (1; where phen is 1,10-phenanthroline) as the starting material, replacement of one of the phen ligands for two cyanides to obtain Fe(phen) 2 (CN) 2 (2) allows for conversion to [Fe(phen) 2 (C 4 H 10 N 4 )] 2+ (3), a sixcoordinate Fe(II) complex whose coordination sphere consists of two chelating polypyridyl ligands and one bidentate carbene-based donor. Ground-state absorption spectra of all three compounds exhibit 1 A 1 → 1 MLCT transition(s) associated with the phen ligands that are relatively insensitive to the identity of the third counterligand(s). Ultrafast time-resolved electronic absorption measurements revealed lifetimes for the MLCT excited states of compounds 1 and 2 of 180 ± 30 and 250 ± 90 fs, respectively, values that are typical for iron(II)-based polypyridyl complexes. The corresponding kinetics for compound 3 were substantially slower at 7.4 ± 0.9 ps; the spectral evolution associated with these dynamics confirms that these kinetics are tracking the MLCT excited state and, more importantly, are coupled to ground-state recovery from this excited state. The data are interpreted in terms of a modulation of the relative energies of the MLCT and ligandfield states across the series, leading to a systematic destabilization of metal-localized ligand-field excited states such that the lowenergy portions of the charge-transfer and ligand-field manifolds are at or near an energetic inversion point in compound 3. We believe these results illustrate the potential for a modular, orthogonal approach to chromophore design in which part of the coordination sphere can be targeted for light absorption while another can be used to tune electronic-state energetics.

Dichalcogenolene platinum(II) diimine complexes, (L E,E ′)Pt(bpy), are characterized by charge-separated dichalcogenolene donor (L E,E ′) → diimine acceptor (bpy) ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LL′CT) excited states that lead to their interesting photophysics and potential use in solar energy conversion applications. Despite the intense interest in these complexes, the chalcogen dependence on the lifetime of the triplet LL′CT excited state remains unexplained. Three new (L E,E ′)Pt(bpy) complexes with mixed chalcogen donors exhibit decay rates that are dominated by a spin−orbit mediated nonradiative pathway, the magnitude of which is proportional to the anisotropic covalency provided by the mixed-chalcogen donor ligand environment. This anisotropic covalency is dramatically revealed in the 13 C NMR chemical shifts of the donor carbons that bear the chalcogens and is further probed by S K-edge XAS. Remarkably, the NMR chemical shift differences also correlate with the spin−orbit matrix element that connects the triplet excited state with the ground state. Consequently, triplet LL′CT excited state lifetimes are proportional to both functions, demonstrating that specific ground state NMR chemical shifts can be used to evaluate spin−orbit coupling contributions to excited state lifetimes.