The luminescence dynamics of a polypyridyl ruthenium II [Ru(phen)2(ip)]2+ and 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (H2TPP) dyad have been measured by using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The transient luminescent spectra of the dyad show an ultrafast energy transfer within 300 ps after photoexcitation of the [Ru(phen)2(ip)]2+ at 453 nm. However, no energy transfer has been observed as the excitation wavelength is 400 nm, corresponding to the absorption peak of H2TPP. The origin of the energy transfer from [Ru(phen)2(ip)]2+ to H2TPP has been analyzed according to the Frster energy-transfer theory.
The transient luminescence of three kinds of ruthenium complexes [Ru(bpy)2(7-CH3-dppz)]2+, [Ru(bpy)2(7-F-dppz)]2+ and [Ru(phen)2(7-F-dppz)]2+ bound to calf thy-mus DNA (ctDNA) has been studied by using the time-resolved spectroscopy. The results show that the luminescence is due to the radiative decay from the charge-transfer states to the ground state. By the interaction with DNA, the radia-tiveless rate of the photoexcited Ru complex molecules decreases, which results in the increase of luminescence lifetime and efficiency. The structure of the Ru com-plex has an important impact on the interaction with DNA. The [Ru(bpy)2(7-CH3-dppz)]2+ shows the longest luminescence lifetime (about 382 ns), while the [Ru(bpy)2(7-F-dppz)]2+ shows the shortest lifetime (about 65 ns). The possible origin of the luminescence dynamics is discussed.
