Gaussian Free-Energy Dependence of Electron-Transfer Rates in Iridium Complexes

The kinetics of photoinduced electron-transfer (ET) reactions have been measured in a series of synthetic donor-acceptor complexes. The electron donors are singlet or triplet excited iridium(I) dimers (Ir(2)), and the acceptors are N-alkylpyridinium groups covalently bound to phosphinite ligands on the Ir(2) core. Rate constants for excited-state ET range from 3.5 x 10(6) to 1.1 x 10(11) per second, and thermal back ET (pyridinium radical to Ir(2)(+)) rates vary from 2.0 x 10(10) to 6.7 x 10(7) per second. The variation of these rates with driving force is in remarkably good agreement with the Marcus theory prediction of a Gaussian free-energy dependence.