LAUSR

Abstract Photophysical behavior of a series of luminescent heteroleptic [Ru(H)(CO)(N^N)(tpp)2]+ complexes with various α-diimine (N^N) and triphenylphosphine (tpp) ligands has been studied in CH2Cl2 solutions (at room temperature) and methanol/ethanol 1:1 matrices (at 77 K). Depending on the N^N ligand attached to the Ru(H)(CO)(tpp)2+ core and the measurement temperature the studied complexes exhibit emission with the metal-to-ligand charge transfer or the N^N ligand-centered character. Some of the investigated complexes are non-emissive at room temperature, most likely due to the presence of relatively low lying dark metal-centered state. Photophysical properties of the investigated complexes have been compared with those characterizing their previously studied [Os(H)(CO)(N^N)(tpp)2]+ analogues.