Synthesis, Characterization, and Photoisomerization Studies of Azo- and Stilbene-Containing Surfactant Rhenium(I) Complexes

A series of rhenium(I) surfactant complexes, fac-[Re(CO)3(N−N)(L)]PF6 (N−N = diimine, L = pyridyl ligand), with various azo- and stilbene-containing ligands have been synthesized and their photophysical properties studied. The X-ray crystal structure of the complex fac-[Re(CO)3(bpy)(L)]PF6 (bpy = 2,2‘-bipyridine, L = 4-(4‘-octadecyloxyphenylstyryl)pyridine) has been determined. The photoinduced isomerization processes of these complexes and their free ligands have been studied by electronic absorption and 1H NMR spectroscopy, and their quantum yields determined.