Resonance energy transfer in the solution phase photophysics of -Re(CO)3L+ pendants bonded to poly(4-vinylpyridine)

Polymers with general formula {[(vpy)2vpyRe(CO)3(tmphen)+]}n{[(vpy)2vpyRe(CO)3(NO2-phen)+]}m (NO2-phen = 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline; tmphen = 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline); vpy = 4-vinylpyridine) were prepared and their morphologies were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Multiple morphologies of aggregates from these ReI polymers were obtained by using different solvents. Energy transfer between MLCTRe→tmphen and MLCTRe→NO2-phen excited states inside the polymers was evidenced by steady state and time-resolved spectroscopy. Current Förster resonance energy transfer theory was successfully applied to energy transfer processes in these polymers.