Italian Contribution to the Recent Growth of the Luminescent 1,3-Bis(Pyridin-2-yl)benzene Platinum(II) Complex Family

The first chlorido platinum(II) complex with a cyclometallated 1,3-bis(pyridin-2-yl)benzene ligand, Pt(bpyb)Cl, was prepared in 1999. Four years later, its luminescent properties were discovered. Since then, a huge number of studies have been dedicated to the synthesis and characterization of related complexes, and to their application in photonics, optoelectronics, bioimaging, and photodynamic therapy. The present review concerns the main results obtained in the last five years by our research group in Milan. After a brief introduction on Pt(bpyb)Cl complexes, we illustrate our recent investigations to show the Milanese contribution to the rapid growth of this platinum family.