Observation of parallel intersystem crossing and charge transfer-state dynamics in [Fe(bpy)(3)](2+) from ultrafast 2D electronic spectroscopy

Transition metal-based charge-transfer complexes represent a broad class of inorganic compounds with diverse photochemical applications. Charge-transfer complexes based on earth-abundant elements have been of increasing interest, particularly the canonical [Fe(bpy)(3)](2+). Photoexcitation into the singlet metal–ligand charge transfer ((1)MLCT) state is followed by relaxation first to the ligand-field manifold and then to the ground state. While these dynamics have been well-studied, processes within the MLCT manifold that facilitate and/or compete with relaxation have been more elusive. We applied ultrafast two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) to disentangle the dynamics immediately following MLCT excitation of this compound. First, dynamics ascribed to relaxation out of the initially formed (1)MLCT state was found to correlate with the inertial response time of the solvent. Second, the additional dimension of the 2D spectra revealed a peak consistent with a ∼20 fs (1)MLCT → (3)MLCT intersystem crossing process. These two observations indicate that the complex simultaneously undergoes intersystem crossing and direct conversion to ligand-field state(s). Resolution of these parallel pathways in this prototypical earth-abundant complex highlights the ability of 2DES to deconvolve the otherwise obscured excited-state dynamics of charge-transfer complexes.