Dinuclear and tetranuclear copper(I) iodide complexes with P and P^N donor ligands: Structural and photoluminescence studies

Design of luminescent complexes with different Cu4I4 cores based on pyridyl phenoxarsines

A series of luminescent Cu4I4 clusters with stair-step, cubane, and octahedral geometries supported by a novel type of cyclic As,N-ligand, pyridyl-containing 10-phenoxarsines, were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. An unusual arrangement of As,N-bidentate and μ2-iodo ligands was found in the octahedral cluster. The structural diversity of the Cu(I) complexes is reflected in their photophysical properties: the phosphorescence spectra of the compounds display emission in a broad spectral range of 495-597 nm. The complex with the Cu4I4L2 stoichiometry bearing a stair-step Cu4I4 core demonstrates temperature-dependent dual emission. The luminescence properties of all complexes were rationalized by DFT calculations.

Emission and Luminescent Vapochromism Control of Octahedral Cu4 I4 Complexes by Conformationally Restricted P,N Ligands

A conformationally restricted P,N-ligand capable of the design of polynuclear copper(I) complexes was synthesized via the reaction of primary pyridylphosphine, paraformaldehyde, and benzhydrylamine. The reaction of the ligand with copper(I) iodide leads to the tetranuclear copper(I) complex with the octahedral type of copper-iodide core. Different orientation of coordination bonds of the ligands relative to the P,N₂ -heterocyclic fragments and to the Cu₄ I₄ cores leads to the existence of two types of conformers of the complex with "compact" or "stretched" geometry of the Cu₄ I₄ cluster. This lability of the complex allowed for obtaining two crystalline phases displaying green or red luminescence. The TDDFT computations along with XRD structural analysis gave a strong interpretation of the green emission belonging to the "compact" form of the complex and belonging of the red emission to the "stretched" form. Moreover, both crystalline phases demonstrate the strong vapochromic responses of luminescence on the vapors of wide range of solvents.

Green Emissive Copper(I) Coordination Polymer Supported by the Diethylpyridylphosphine Ligand as a Luminescent Sensor for Overheating Processes

Tertiary diethylpyridylphosphine was synthesized by the reaction of pyridylphosphine with bromoethane in a suberbasic medium. The reaction of phosphine with the copper(I) iodide led to the formation of a copper(I) coordination polymer, which, according to the X-ray diffraction data, has an intermediate structure with a copper-halide core between the octahedral and stairstep geometries of the Cu₄I₄ clusters. The obtained coordination polymer exhibits a green emission in the solid state, which is caused by the ³(M+X)LCT transitions. The heating up of the copper(I) coordination polymer to 138.5 °C results in its monomerization and the formation of a new solid-state phase. The new phase exhibits a red emission, with the emission band maximum at 725 nm. According to the experimental data and quantum chemical computations, it was concluded that depolymerization probably leads to a complex that is formed with the octahedral structure of the copper-halide core. The resulting solid-state phase can be backward-converted to the polymer phase via recrystallization from the acetone or DMF. Therefore, the obtained coordination polymer can be considered a sensor or detector for the overheating of processes that should be maintained at temperatures below 138 °C (e.g., engines, boiling liquids, solar heat systems, etc.).

Luminescent Cu4I4-cubane clusters based on N-methyl-5,10-dihydrophenarsazines

Two luminescent Cu₄I₄-cubane tetramers with N-methyl-10-(p-halogenophenyl)-5,10-dihydrophenarsazine ligands were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The UV-Vis absorption and emission properties were studied and rationalized by DFT and time-dependent DFT calculations. The luminescence behavior was found to be rather different from that of recently reported tetranuclear copper iodide cubane clusters based on As,O-analogues - 10-(aryl)phenoxarsines. The crystalline powders of both complexes exhibit the temperature-dependent dual-band emission: the low-energy emission originates from the cluster-centered (³CC) triplet state, whereas the high-energy emission was attributed to the intraligand (³IL) triplet state.

Molecular copper iodide clusters: a distinguishing family of mechanochromic luminescent compounds

Mechanochromic luminescent materials displaying switchable luminescence properties in response to external mechanical force are currently attracting wide interest because of their multiple potential applications. In the growing number of mechanochromic luminescent compounds, mechanochromic complexes based on copper present appealing features with a large variety of mechanochromic properties and economical advantages over other metals. Among Cu-based compounds, molecular copper iodide clusters of cubane geometry with formula [Cu₄I₄L₄] (L = organic ligand) stand out. Indeed, they can exhibit multiple luminescent stimuli-responsive properties, being particularly suitable for the development of multifunctional photoactive systems. This perspective describes the survey of these mechanochromic luminescent cubane copper iodide clusters. Based on our investigations, their mechanochromic luminescence properties are presented along with the study of the underlying mechanism. Establishment of structure-property relationships supported by various characterization techniques and associated with theoretical investigations permits gaining insights into the mechanism at play. Studies of other researcher groups are also described and illustrate the interest shown by these mechanochromic compounds. Mechanically responsive films are reported, demonstrating their potential use in a range of applications of such copper-based stimuli-responsive materials. Current challenges faced by the development of technological applications are finally outlined.

Self-Assembly and Aggregation-Induced Emission in Aqueous Media of Responsive Luminescent Copper(I) Coordination Polymer Nanoparticles

Luminescent copper(I)-based compounds have recently attracted much attention since they can reach very high emission quantum yields. Interestingly, Cu(I) clusters can also be emissive, and the extension from small molecules to larger architecture could represent the first step towards novel materials that could be obtained by programming the units to undergo self-assembly. However, for Cu(I) compounds the formation of supramolecular systems is challenging due to the coordinative diversity of copper centers. This works shows that this diversity can be exploited in the construction of responsive systems. In detail, the changes in the emissive profile of different aggregates formed in water by phosphine-thioether copper(I) derivatives were followed. Our results demonstrate that the self-assembly and disassembly of Cu(I)-based coordination polymeric nanoparticles (CPNs) is sensitive to solvent composition. The solvent-induced changes are related to modifications in the coordination sphere of copper at the molecular level, which alters not only the emission profile but also the morphology of the aggregates. Our findings are expected to inspire the construction of smart supramolecular systems based on dynamic coordinative metal centers.

Investigation of Luminescent Triplet States in Tetranuclear CuI Complexes: Thermochromism and Structural Characterization

To develop new and flexible CuI containing luminescent substances, we extend our previous investigations on two metal-centered species to four metal-centered complexes. These complexes could be a basis for designing new organic light-emitting diode (OLED) relevant species. Both the synthesis and in-depth spectroscopic analysis, combined with high-level theoretical calculations are presented on a series of tetranuclear CuI complexes with a halide containing Cu4 X4 core (X=iodide, bromide or chloride) and two 2-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine bridging ligands with a methyl group in para (4-Me) or ortho (6-Me) position of the pyridine ring. The structure of the electronic ground state is characterized by X-ray diffraction, NMR, and IR spectroscopy with the support of theoretical calculations. In contrast to the para system, the complexes with ortho-substituted bridging ligands show a remarkable and reversible temperature-dependent dual phosphorescence. Here, we combine for the first time the luminescence thermochromism with time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy. Thus, we receive experimental data on the structures of the two triplet states involved in the luminescence thermochromism. The transient IR spectra of the underlying triplet metal/halide-to-ligand charge transfer (3 M/XLCT) and cluster-centered (3 CC) states were obtained and interpreted by comparison with calculated vibrational spectra. The systematic and significant dependence of the bridging halides was analyzed.

Copper(I) Phosphinooxazoline Complexes: Impact of the Ligand Substitution and Steric Demand on the Electrochemical and Photophysical Properties

A series of seven homoleptic Cu^I complexes based on hetero-bidentate P^N ligands was synthesized and comprehensively characterized. In order to study structure-property relationships, the type, size, number and configuration of substituents at the phosphinooxazoline (phox) ligands were systematically varied. To this end, a combination of X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopy, time-resolved emission spectroscopy, quenching experiments and cyclic voltammetry was used to assess the photophysical and electrochemical properties. Furthermore, time-dependent density functional theory calculations were applied to also analyze the excited state structures and characteristics. Surprisingly, a strong dependency on the chirality of the respective P^N ligand was found, whereas the specific kind and size of the different substituents has only a minor impact on the properties in solution. Most importantly, all complexes except C3 are photostable in solution and show fully reversible redox processes. Sacrificial reductants were applied to demonstrate a successful electron transfer upon light irradiation. These properties render this class of photosensitizers as potential candidates for solar energy conversion issues.