Reversible Binding of Solvent to Naked PbIICenters in Unusual Homoleptic Alkynyl-Based Pt2Pb2Clusters

Tetryl-Tetrylene Addition to Phenylacetylene

Phenylacetylene adds [Ar*GeH2 -SnAr'], [Ar*GeH2 -PbAr'] and [Ar'SnH2 -PbAr*] at rt in a regioselective and stereoselective reaction. The highest reactivity was found for the stannylene, which reacts immediately upon addition of one equivalent of alkyne. However, the plumbylenes exhibit addition to the alkyne only in reaction with an excess of phenylacetylene. The product of the germylplumbylene addition reacts with a second equivalent of alkyne and the product of a CH-activation, a dimeric lead acetylide, were isolated. In the case of the stannylplumbylene the trans-addition product was characterized as the kinetically controlled product which isomerizes at rt to yield the cis-addition product, which is stabilized by an intramolecular Sn-H-Pb interaction. NMR chemical shifts of the olefins were investigated using two- and four-component relativistic DFT calculations, as spin-orbit effects can be large. Hydride abstraction was carried out by treating [Ar'SnPhC=CHGeH2 Ar*] with the trityl salt [Ph3 C][Al(OC{CF3 })4 ] to yield a four membered ring cation.

Vapochromic crystals: understanding vapochromism from the perspective of crystal engineering

Vapochromic materials, which undergo colour and/or emission changes upon exposure to certain vapours or gases, have received increasing attention recently because of their wide range of applications in, e.g., chemical sensors, light-emitting diodes, and environmental monitors. Vapochromic crystals, as a specific kind of vapochromic materials, can be investigated from the perspective of crystal engineering to understand the mechanism of vapochromism. Moreover, understanding the vapochromism mechanism will be beneficial to design and prepare task-specific vapochromic crystals as one kind of low-cost 'electronic nose' to detect toxic gases or volatile organic compounds. This review provides important information in a broad scientific context to develop new vapochromic materials, which covers organometallic or coordination complexes and organic crystals, as well as the different mechanisms of the related vapochromic behaviour. In addition, recent examples of supramolecular vapochromic crystals and metal-organic-framework (MOFs) vapochromic crystals are introduced.

Synthesis and Photoluminescence of Tetracyanidonitridorhenium(V) Complexes with Five-Membered N-Heteroaromatic Ligands and Photoluminescence-Intensity Change

Novel tetracyanidonitridorhenium(V) complexes with five-membered N-heteroaromatic ligands, (PPh₄)₂[ReN(CN)₄L] [L = imidazole (Him) (2), 1-methylimidazole (Mim) (3), and pyrazole (pyz) (4)] and (PPh₄)₂[ReN(CN)₄L]·L [L = Him (5) and Mim (6)], were synthesized by the reactions of (PPh₄)₂[ReN(CN)₄] (1) with Him, Mim, and pyz, and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The complexes 2, 3, 4, and 6 showed intense photoluminescence, with the emission quantum yields (Φ_em) being 0.65-0.75 in the solid state at 296 K. In contrast, the Φ_em and τ_em values of 5 are significantly smaller and shorter, respectively, than the relevant values of 2. The interconversion reactions among 1, 2, and 5 accompanied by large photoluminescence-intensity changes were accomplished by solvent-free reactions and exposure of water. The mechanochemical reaction of 2 with 1 mol equiv of Him in the solid state gave 5. Complex 5 was also obtained by the mechanochemical reaction of 1 with 2 mol equivalents of Him in the solid state. By placing solid of 5 in water, the solid showed intense photoluminescence to give 2. Complex 1 was produced under vacuum at 185 °C from 2 or 5.

Formation of Hetero-binuclear Pt(II)-M(II) Complexes Based on (2-(1 H-Tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl)diphenylphosphine Oxide for Superior Phosphorescence of Monomers

Novel hetero-binuclear platinum complexes (HBC-Pt(II)-M(II), M = Ca(II), Mg(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II)) have been synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding precursors [Pt(ppy)(μ-Cl)]₂ with (2-(1 H-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl)diphenylphosphine oxide (TTPPO). The X-ray structures of the complexes show that two ancillary ligands TTPPO in the square-planar Pt(II) moiety act as a quadridentate chelating agent for the other metal center, eventually forming a distorted octahedral configuration. There are no significant π-π interactions and Pt-M metallophilic interactions in the crystal lattice, due to the steric hindrances associated with the rigid octahedral structure together with the bulky TTPPO. Consequently, HBC-Pt-M complexes show monomer emission characteristics with quantum yields up to 59% in powder, suggesting their great potential for practical applications. DFT and TD-DFT calculations on HBC-Pt-Zn reveal that the phosphorescence can be ascribed to intraligand charge transfer (³ILCT) combined with some metal-to-ligand charge transfer (³MLCT) in the Pt(ppy) moiety, which is consistent with the observations from the photophysical investigations.

Luminescence color alteration induced by trapped solvent molecules in crystals of tetrahedral gold(i) complexes: near-unity luminescence mixed with thermally activated delayed fluorescence and phosphorescence

Emission color alteration caused by captured solvent molecules in the crystal lattice of tetrahedral gold(i) complexes.

Kinetic Study on the Self-Assembly of Au(I)-Thiolate Lamellar Sheets: Preassembled Precursor vs Molecular Precursor

Molecular self-assembly has played an important role in nanofabrication. Due to the weak driving forces of noncovalent bonds, developing molecular nanoassemblies that have both robust preparation conditions and stable structure is a challenge. In our previous work, we have developed a reversible self-assembly system of Au(I)-thiolate coordination polymer (ATCP) to form colloidal lamellar sheets and demonstrated the high tailorability and stability of their structures, as well as their promising applications in gold nanocluster/nanoparticle fabrication and UV light shielding. Here, we first reported our progress in exploring a robust and green assembly protocol toward ATCP colloidal lamellar sheets in water by allowing the molecular precursors of HAuCl₄ and the thiol ligand to form ATCP preassembled intermediates. In this way, colloidal ATCP lamellar sheets can be prepared in a wide range of synthetic concentrations ([Au]₀ ≥ 2 × 10^-4 M) and at broad assembly temperatures (80-100 °C) with similar high yields (>80%). The assembly kinetics at different conditions are also studied in detail to help understand the robust assembly process. The robust and green synthetic protocols will pave a way for their real applications.

Rigidly linking cyclometallated Ir(iii) and Pt(ii) centres: an efficient approach to strongly absorbing and highly phosphorescent red emitters

Appending a cyclometallated platinum unit onto each of the three ligands of the archetypal fac-Ir(ppy)₃ complex leads to a highly efficient red emitter with a short luminescence decay time.

Alkynyl bridged cyclometalated Ir2M2 clusters: impact of the heterometal in the photo- and electro-luminescence properties

The distinct photo- and electro-luminescence properties of clusters [Ir₂M₂(ppy)₄(μ-CCC₆H₄-OMe₃)₄] (M = Ag, Cu) provide an example of the role of the CCR groups in modulating metallophillic bonding in the T₁ state.

Cross-Conjugated Systems Based On An (E)-Hexa-3-en-1,5-diyne-3,4-diyl Skeleton: Spectroscopic and Spectroelectrochemical Investigations

A series of cross-conjugated compounds based on an (E)-4,4'-(hexa-3-en-1,5-diyne-3,4-diyl)bis(N,N-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)aniline) skeleton (1-6) have been synthesized. The linear optical absorption properties can be tuned by modification of the substituents at the 1 and 5 positions of the hexa-3-en-1,5-diynyl backbone (1: Si(CH(CH3)2)3, 2: C6H4C≡CSi(CH3)3, 3: C6H4COOCH3, 4: C6H4CF3, 5: C6H4C≡N, 6: C6H4C≡CC5H4N), although attempts to introduce electron-donating (C6H4CH3, C6H4OCH3, C6H4Si(CH3)3) substituents at these positions were hampered by the ensuing decreased stability of the compounds. Spectroelectrochemical investigations of selected examples, supported by DFT-based computational studies, have shown that one- and two-electron oxidation of the 1,2-bis(triarylamine)ethene fragment also results in electronic changes to the perpendicular π-system in the hexa-3-en-1,5-diynyl branch of the molecule. These properties suggest that (E)-hexa-3-en-1,5-diynyl-based compounds could have applications in molecular sensing and molecular electronics.

Anion-, Solvent-, Temperature-, and Mechano-Responsive Photoluminescence in Gold(I) Diphosphine-Based Dimers

A series of [Au2 (nixantphos)2](X)2 (nixantphos=4,6-bis(diphenylphosphino)-phenoxazine; X=NO3, 1; CF3 COO, 2; CF3 SO3, 3; [Au(CN)2], 4; and BF4, 5) complexes that exhibit intriguing anion-switchable and stimuli-responsive luminescent photophysical properties have been synthesized and characterized. Depending on their anions, these complexes display yellow (3), orange (4 and 5), and red (1 and 2) emission colors. They exhibit reversible thermo-, mechano-, and vapochromic luminescence changes readily perceivable by the naked eye. Single-crystal X-ray studies show that the [Au2 (nixantphos)2](2+) cations with short intramolecular Au⋅⋅⋅Au interactions are involved as donors in an infinite N-H⋅⋅⋅X (X=O and N) hydrogen-bonded chain formation with CF3 COO(-) (2 C) and aurophilically linked [Au(CN)2](-) counterions (4 C). Both crystals show thermochromic luminescence; their room temperature red (2 C) and orange (4 C) emission turns into yellow upon cooling to 77 K. They also exhibit reversible mechanochromic luminescence by changing their emission color from red to dark (2 C), and orange to red (4 C). Compounds 1-5 also display reversible mechanochromic luminescence, altering their emission colors between orange (1) or red (2) to dark, as well as between yellow (3) or orange (4 and 5) to red. Detailed photophysical investigations and correlation with solid-state structural data established the significant role of NH⋅⋅⋅X interactions in the stimuli-responsive luminescent behavior.

An Extended Chain and Trinuclear Complexes Based on Pt(II)-M (M = Tl(I), Pb(II)) Bonds: Contrasting Photophysical Behavior

The syntheses and structural characterizations of a Pt-Tl chain [{Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2}Tl(Me2CO)]n 1 and two trinuclear Pt2M clusters (NBu4)[{Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2}2Tl] 2 and [{Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2}2Pb] 3 (bzq = 7,8-benzoquinolinyl), stabilized by donor-acceptor Pt → M bonds, are reported. The one-dimensional heterometallic chain 1 is formed by alternate "Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2" and "Tl(Me2CO)" fragments, with Pt-Tl bond separations in the range of 2.961(1)-3.067(1) Å. The isoelectronic trinuclear complexes 2 (which crystallizes in three forms, namely, 2a, 2b, and 2c) and 3 present a sandwich structure in which the Tl(I) or Pb(II) is located between two "Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2" subunits. NMR studies suggest equilibria in solution implying cleavage and reformation of Pt-M bonds. The lowest-lying absorption band in the UV-vis spectra in CH2Cl2 and tetrahydrofuran (THF) of 1, associated with (1)MLCT/(1)L'LCT (1)[5dπ(Pt) → π*(bzq)]/(1)[(C6F5) → bzq], displays a blue shift in relation to the precursor, suggesting the cleavage of the chain maintaining bimetallic Pt-Tl fragments in solution, also supported by NMR spectroscopy. In 2 and 3, it shows a blue shift in THF and a red shift in CH2Cl2, supporting a more extensive cleavage of the Pt-M bonds in THF solutions than in CH2Cl2, where the trinuclear entities are predominant. The Pt-Tl chain 1 displays in solid state a bright orange-red emission ascribed to (3)MM'CT (M' = Tl). It exhibits remarkable and fast reversible vapochromic and vapoluminescent response to donor vapors (THF and Et2O), related to the coordination/decoordination of the guest molecule to the Tl(I) ion, and mechanochromic behavior, associated with the shortening of the intermetallic Pt-Tl separations in the chain induced by grinding. In frozen solutions (THF, acetone, and CH2Cl2) 1 shows interesting luminescence thermochromism with emissions strongly dependent on the solvent, concentration, and excitation wavelengths. The Pt2Tl complex 2 shows an emission close to 1, ascribed to charge transfer from the platinum fragment to the thallium [(3)(L+L')MM'CT]. 2 also shows vapoluminescent behavior in the presence of vapors of Me2CO, THF, and Et2O, although smaller and slower than those of 1. The trinuclear neutral complex Pt2Pb 3 displays a blue-shift emission band, tentatively assigned to admixture of (3)MM'CT (3)[Pt(d) → Pb(sp)] with some metal-mediated intraligand ((3)ππ/(3)ILCT) contribution. In contrast to 1 and 2, 3 does not show vapoluminescent behavior.