Luminescent Silver–Copper “Hourglass” Hepta‐ and Decanuclear Alkynyl‐Phosphine Clusters

A Novel Photoluminescent Ag/Cu Cluster Exhibits a Chromic Photoluminescence Response towards Volatile Organic Vapors

A new Ag/Cu bimetallic cluster [Ag₁₀Cu₆(bdppthi)₂(C≡CPh)₁₂(EtOH)₂](ClO₄)₄ (1, bdppthi = N,N'-bis(diphenylphosphanylmethyl)-tetrahydroimidazole) exhibited strong phosphorescent (PL) emission at 644 nm upon excitation at 400 nm. Removal of the coordinated EtOH molecules in 1 resulted in derivative 1a, which exhibited significant red-shifted emission at 678 nm. The structure and PL of 1 was restored on exposure to EtOH vapor. Cluster 1a also exhibited a vapor-chromic PL response towards other common organic solvent vapors including acetone, MeOH and MeCN. A PMMA film of 1a was developed as a reusable visible sensor for MeCN.

A Photoluminescent Ag10 Cu6 Cluster Stablized by a PNNP Ligand and Phenylacetylides Selectively and Reversibly Senses Ammonia in Air and Water

A photoluminescent bimetallic cluster [Ag₁₀ Cu₆ (bdppthi)₂ (C≡CPh)₁₂ (MeOH)₂ (H₂ O)](ClO₄ )₄ (1, bdppthi=N,N'-bis(diphenylphosphanylmethyl)-tetrahydroimidazole} was synthesized from the PNNP type ligand bdppthi generated in-situ. Upon excitation at 365 nm, 1 exhibited strong phosphorescent emission at 630 nm, which was selectively quenched by NH₃ in air or water. The sensing of NH₃ was rapid and recoverable, with detection limits of 53 ppm (v/v) in N₂ and 21 μmol/L (0.36 ppm, w/w) for NH₃  ⋅ H₂ O in water. Cluster 1 could potentially serve as a bifunctional chemical sensor for the efficient detection of ammonia in waste-gas and waste-water.