Transient behaviour and luminescence quenching of Rub(bpy)<inf>3</inf>²⁺ bound to an insoluble polymeric phase

The spectroscopic behaviour of Ru(bpy)32+ bound to an insoluble polystyrene support is similar to that reported in homogeneous solution and in other heterogeneous media. Following pulsed excitation at 532 nm, emission from the MLCT complex is observed, the decay of which contains both unimolecular and bimolecular components. Weak transient absorption within the sample is also observed and *Ru(bpy)32+ could be identified by its absorption maximum at 375 nm and depletion minimum at 430 nm. Experiments using methylviologen show that luminescence quenching is about forty times slower than in aqueous solution, indicating that the hydrophobic nature of the polymer impedes the approach of the quencher to the ruthenium complex. The inclusion of a hydrophilic sequence in the sample has little effect on improving the quenching efficiency. © 1988.