Photoinduced Isomerization of [N] in a Bimetallic Lutetium Complex.

The first lanthanide dinitrogen photoswitch (CMeH)(THF)Lu, , is reported. is a unique example of controlled isomerization between side-on and end-on coordination modes of [N] in a bimetallic lutetium dinitrogen complex that results in photochromism. Near-infrared light (NIR) was used to promote this effect, as evidenced by single X-ray diffraction (XRD) connectivity and Raman data, generating the [N] end-on bound isomer, (CMeH)(THF)Lu, . Although different ligands and coordinating solvents were studied to replicate and control the optical properties in , only the original configuration with CMeH ligands and THF as the coordinating solvent worked. Supported by the first-principles calculations, the electronic structures along with the mechanistic details of the side-on to end-on isomerization were unraveled. Preliminary reactivity studies show that formed with NIR light reacts with anthracene, generating dihydroanthracene and anthracene dimers, indicating new redox reaction pathways.