Studies of the isomerization and photophysical properties of a novel 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine-based ligand and its complexes.

A novel 2,2':6',2 "-terpyridine-based ligand L and its complexes [ML2](ClO4)(2)center dot CH2Cl2 (M = Cd 1, Zn 2, Cu 4, Mn 5), [CoL2](ClO4)(2) 3, CdLI2 6 and CdL(SCN)(2) 7 were synthesized and fully characterized. The crystal structures of 1-6 were solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The linear absorption and emission properties, and third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of all the complexes were systematically investigated. The equilibrium of the trans-and cis-isomers of L was studied both experimentally and theoretically. The configurations and photophysical properties of the complexes display a large dependence on the choice of metal ions and anions.