The trinuclear silver and copper complexes [M₃(dppm)₃] with m₃-h¹ coordinated acetylides have been demonstrated to exhibit significant luminescent emission that is attributed to processes involving significant LMCT contribution. Reaction of [M₂(dppm)₂(MeCN)₂][PF₆]₂ (M = Cu, Ag) with 1,3,5-C₆H₃(CºCH)₃ results in the preparation of an A₂B substituted dendrimer due to steric crowding around the dendrimer core. The complexes were characterized by NMR, UV-vis and cyclic voltammetry. Under Glaser-Hay-Eglington conditions the terminal aceteylene moeity undergoes homocoupling to form the dodecameric metal complex, however there is no observable interaction between adjacent or remote multi-metallic centers. Soluble polymers incorporating the [M₃(dppm)₃(m₃-h¹-CºC)₂] metal center have also been prepared via Sonogashira coupling. These complexes may serve as basic structures for the creation of supramolecular complexes which display directed energy transfer.  

Fig 1: Preparation of A₂B substituted dendrimer core with luminescent, trinuclear complexes.  

Acknowledgements. The work described in this paper was supported by The Associated Western Universities, the Inland Northwest Research Alliance, and the United States Department of Energy through Contract # DE-AC07-99ID13727.