Versatile Heteroleptic Cu(I) Complexes Based on Quino(xa)-line-Triazole Ligands: from Visible-Light Absorption and Cooperativity to Luminescence and Photoredox Catalysis

Four new heteroleptic Cu(I) complexes based on 1, 2, 3-triazolyl-quinoline or quinoxaline and a chelating diphosphine were prepared and fully characterised. The mononuclear derivatives absorb in the visible region, up to 600 nm, while the dinuclear complex has a long-tail absorption up to 800 nm, showing an additional electronic state corroborated by theoretical calculations. Although a methylene group between the triazole and the quino(xa)line moiety increases the bite angle and decreases the luminescence in solution, all complexes emit brightly in the solid-state. Their redox properties in the excited state were determined, proving their ability in serving as photoredox catalysts in atom transfer radical addition successfully.