Luminescent Mononuclear Ag(I)−Bis(diphosphine) Complexes: Correlation between the Photophysics and the Structures of Mononuclear Ag(I)−Bis(diphosphine) Complexes

Effect of the dangling aromatic ring on neutral luminescent bis(phosphine) Cu(i)/Ag(i) complexes with the asymmetric pyridyl-tetrazolate ligands

A series of neutral luminescent bis(phosphine) Cu(i) complexes of pyridyl-tetrazolate ligands (L1-L3) with the general formula [CuI(L n )(P^P)] (1-6) were synthesized, which have been well characterized by IR, UV/vis, CV, 1H NMR and 31P NMR. For comparison, an Ag(i) complex [AgI(L2)(PPh3)2] (7) was also synthesized. The crystal structures of 2 and 7 have been further determined by X-ray crystallography. All these Cu(i) compounds show bright luminescence in the solid state with photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) in the range of 25.8% to 85.0%. More interestingly, the Cu(i) complexes bearing an additional dangling aromatic ring on the diimine ligands exhibit enhanced luminescent performance in various solutions and their PLQYs are significantly higher than those of related Cu(i) complexes without steric protection. Compared with 1, the Cu(i) complexes with an additional dangling tetrazole moiety show a significant solvatochromic effect, which is uncommon for luminescent Cu(i) complexes. Moreover, [CuI(L2)(PPh3)2] (2) was further designed as an OLED material, which showed a high external quantum efficiency of 7.7%.

Tunable from Blue to Red Emissive Composites and Solids of Silver Diphosphane Systems with Higher Quantum Yields than the Diphosphane Ligands

PMMA composites and solids of complexes of formulas [AgX(P-P)]_n [n = 1 and 2; X = Cl, NO₃, ClO₄, CF₃COO, and OTf; P-P = dppb, xantphos, (PR₂)₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (R = Ph and ⁱPr)] display the whole palette of colors from blue to red upon selection of the anionic ligand (X) and the diphosphane (P-P). The diphosphane seems to play the most important role in tuning the emission energy and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) behavior. The PMMA composites of the complexes exhibit higher quantum yields than that of the diphosphane ligands and those with dppb are between 28 and 53%. Remarkably, instead of blue-green emissions which dominate the luminescence of silver diphosphane complexes in rigid phases, those with carborane diphosphanes are yellow-orange or orange-red emitters. Theoretical studies have been carried out for complexes with P-P = dppb, X = Cl; P-P = dppic, X = NO₃; P-P = dppcc, X = Cl, NO₃, and OTf and the mononuclear complexes [AgX(xantphos)] (X = Cl, Br). Optimization of the first excited triplet state was only possible for [AgX(xantphos)] (X = Cl and Br). A mixed MLCT and MC nature could be attributed to the S₀ → T₁ transition in these three-coordinated complexes.

Luminescent phosphine copper(i) complexes with various functionalized bipyridine ligands: synthesis, structures, photophysics and computational study

A new series of luminescent phosphine copper(i) complexes with cyano- and hydroxyl-substituted 2,2′-bipyridine ligands have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Their luminescent properties have also been investigated in detail.

Polynuclear Cu(i) and Ag(i) phosphine complexes containing multi-dentate polytopic ligands: syntheses, crystal structures and photoluminescence properties

A series of polynuclear metal complexes, [Cu2(L1)(PPh3)4](ClO4)2 (1), [Cu3(L2)(PPh3)6](ClO4) (2), [Cu3(L3)(PPh3)6] (3), [Ag2(L1)(PPh3)4](BF4)2 (4), [Ag4(L2)2(PPh3)6] (5) and [Ag3(L3)(PPh3)5] (6), have been obtained from the reactions of the highly conjugated bridging ligands 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine (L1), 2,3-bis(2-tetrazoyl)pyrazine (H2L2) and 2,3-bis(2-tetrazoyl)imidazole (H3L3) with [Cu(MeCN)4]ClO4 and AgBF4, respectively. Their crystal structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography and their photophysical properties have been investigated in detail. Complexes 1 and 3 show photoluminescence in CH2Cl2 solution, while all the complexes exhibit obvious luminescence in the solid state; detailed photophysical studies and density functional theory calculations of these complexes have revealed that their lowest energy absorptions and emissions are predominantly derived from either metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) or intraligand (IL) excited states.

Ag(i) complex design affording intense phosphorescence with a landmark lifetime of over 100 milliseconds

A new Ag(i) complex was designed that shows an unprecedentedly long ambient temperature emission decay time of τ = 110 ms at an emission quantum yield of Φ_PL = 50%, as measured for a doped PMMA matrix.

Photoluminescence of Ag(i) complexes with a square-planar coordination geometry: the first observation

First examples of square-planar Ag(i) complexes showing MLCT emission are reported. They demonstrate an interesting thermochromic luminescence with the nano- and microsecond lifetime components.

Syntheses and Structures of d10 Coinage Metal Complexes of Electron-Accepting Phosphine Ligands Featuring a 3,3,4,4,5,5-Hexafluorocyclopentene Framework

Cu(I), Ag(I), and Au(I) complexes of monophosphine or bisphosphine ligands based on the 3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluorocyclopentene skeleton were synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The electron-withdrawing nature of these polyfluorinated phosphines was experimentally revealed via UV/vis absorption studies and crystal structure analysis. Successful catalytic application of the Au(I) complex for alkyne hydration reactions was investigated.

Interplay between the Conformational Flexibility and Photoluminescent Properties of Mononuclear Pyridinophanecopper(I) Complexes

The macrocyclic ligand conformational behavior in solution, solid-state structures and the photophysical properties of copper(I) cationic and neutral mononuclear complexes supported by tetradentate N, N'-dialkyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)-pyridinophane ligands ^RN4 (R = H, Me, ⁱBu, ^secBu, ^neoPent, ⁱPr, Ts) were investigated in detail. Steric properties of the alkyl group at the axial amine in the ^RN4 ligand were found to strongly affect the conformational preferences and dynamic behavior in solution. Several types of conformational exchange processes were revealed by variable-temperature NMR and 2D exchange spectroscopy, including degenerative exchange in a pseudotetrahedral species as well as exchange between two isomers with different conformers of tri- and tetracoordinate ^RN4 ligands. These exchange processes are slower for the complexes containing bulky alkyl groups at the amine compared to less sterically demanding analogues. A clear correlation is also observed between the steric bulk of the alkyl substituents and the photoluminescent properties of the derived complexes, with less dynamic complexes bearing bulkier alkyl substituents exhibiting higher absolute photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) in solution and the solid state: PLQY in solution increases in the order Me < ^neoPent < ⁱBu < ^secBu ≈ ⁱPr < ^tBu. The electrochemical properties of the cationic complexes [(^RN4)Cu^I(MeCN)]X (X = BF₄, PF₆) were also dependent on the steric properties of the amine substituent.

Near-unity thermally activated delayed fluorescence efficiency in three- and four-coordinate Au(i) complexes with diphosphine ligands

The synthesis and photoluminescence properties of three-coordinate Au(i) complexes with rigid diphosphine ligands LMe {1,2-bis[bis(2-methylphenyl)phosphino]benzene}, LEt {1,2-bis[bis(2-ethylphenyl)phosphino]benzene}, and LiPr {1,2-bis[bis(2-isopropylphenyl)phosphino]benzene} are investigated. The LMe and LEt ligands afford two types of complexes: dinuclear complexes [μ-LMe(AuCl)2] (1d) and [μ-LEt(AuCl)2] (2d) with an Au(i)-Au(i) bond and mononuclear three-coordinate Au(i) complexes LMeAuCl (1) and LEtAuCl (2). On the other hand, the bulkiest ligand, LiPr, affords three-coordinate Au(i) complexes, LiPrAuCl (3) and LiPrAuI (4), but no dinuclear complexes. X-ray analysis suggests that both 3 and 4 possess a highly distorted trigonal planar geometry. Moreover, luminescence data reveal that at room temperature, 3 and 4 exhibit yellow-green thermally activated delayed fluorescence in the crystalline state with maximum emission wavelengths at 558 and 549 nm, respectively. The emission yields are close to unity. Quantum chemical calculations suggest that the emission of 4 originates from the (σ + X) → π* excited state that possesses strong intraligand charge-transfer character. The luminescent properties of four-coordinate Au(i) complex (5) possessing a tetrahedral geometry are discussed on the basis of the emission spectra and decay times measured in a temperature range of 309-77 K.

A unique tetranuclear Ag(i) complex emitting efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence with a remarkably short decay time

A novel tetranuclear Ag(i) complex, [Ag4(μ-DMPTP)2(POP)3][BF4]2 (Ag4N2P3), has been designed to achieve highly efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). Photophysical investigations show that the compound exhibits highly efficient TADF (Φ = 76%) and has a very short ambient-temperature TADF decay time of only 0.65 μs, corresponding to a radiative decay rate of k = Φ/τ = 1.2 × 106 s-1, a value belonging to the fast radiative rates in TADF materials.

TADF Material Design: Photophysical Background and Case Studies Focusing on CuI and AgI Complexes

The development of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and the use of emitting molecules have strongly stimulated scientific research of emitting compounds. In particular, for OLEDs it is required to harvest all singlet and triplet excitons that are generated in the emission layer. This can be achieved using the so-called triplet harvesting mechanism. However, the materials to be applied are based on high-cost rare metals and therefore, it has been proposed already more than one decade ago by our group to use the effect of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) to harvest all generated excitons in the lowest excited singlet state S₁ . In this situation, the resulting emission is an S₁ →S₀ fluorescence, though a delayed one. Hence, this mechanism represents the singlet harvesting mechanism. Using this effect, high-cost and strong SOC-carrying rare metals are not required. This mechanism can very effectively be realized by use of Cu^I or Ag^I complexes and even by purely organic molecules. In this investigation, we focus on photoluminescence properties and on crucial requirements for designing Cu^I and Ag^I materials that exhibit short TADF decay times at high emission quantum yields. The decay times should be as short as possible to minimize non-radiative quenching and, in particular, chemical reactions that frequently occur in the excited state. Thus, a short TADF decay time can strongly increase the material's long-term stability. Here, we study crucial parameters and analyze their impact on the TADF decay time. For example, the energy separation ΔE(S₁ -T₁ ) between the lowest excited singlet state S₁ and the triplet state T₁ should be small. Accordingly, we present detailed photophysical properties of two case-study materials designed to exhibit a large ΔE(S₁ -T₁ ) value of 1000 cm^-1 (120 meV) and, for comparison, a small one of 370 cm^-1 (46 meV). From these studies-extended by investigations of many other Cu^I TADF compounds-we can conclude that just small ΔE(S₁ -T₁ ) is not a sufficient requirement for short TADF decay times. High allowedness of the transition from the emitting S₁ state to the electronic ground state S₀ , expressed by the radiative rate k^r (S₁ →S₀ ) or the oscillator strength f(S₁ →S₀ ), is also very important. However, mostly small ΔE(S₁ -T₁ ) is related to small k^r (S₁ →S₀ ). This relation results from an experimental investigation of a large number of Cu^I complexes and basic quantum mechanical considerations. As a consequence, a reduction of τ(TADF) to below a few μs might be problematic. However, new materials can be designed for which this disadvantage is not prevailing. A new TADF compound, Ag(dbp)(P₂ -nCB) (with dbp=2,9-di-n-butyl-1,10-phenanthroline and P₂ -nCB=bis-(diphenylphosphine)-nido-carborane) seems to represent such an example. Accordingly, this material shows TADF record properties, such as short TADF decay time at high emission quantum yield. These properties are based (i) on geometry optimizations of the Ag^I complex for a fast radiative S₁ →S₀ rate and (ii) on restricting the extent of geometry reorganizations after excitation for reducing non-radiative relaxation and emission quenching. Indeed, we could design a TADF material with breakthrough properties showing τ(TADF)=1.4 μs at 100 % emission quantum yield.

Observation of Contrary Thermo-responsive Trend for Single Crystal and Powder Samples in Mechano-, Thermo- and Solvato-responsive Luminescent Cubane [Ag4I4L4] Cluster

A new silver(I) iodide cluster [Ag₄I₄(TMP)₄] (TMP = tris(3-methylphenyl)-phosphine) 1 shows triply stimuli-responsive luminescent chromism, namely, mechano-, thermo- and solvent-responsive chromism, which is isostructural to our previously reported [Cu₄I₄(TMP)₄] 2 but shows quite different luminescence in response to the external stimuli. Especially, during the mechanical grinding, the relative intensities of HE and LE of 1 varied with a concomitant hypsochromic shift, and when the temperature was decreased from 300 to 5 K, unprecedented contrary thermo-responsive trend for single crystal and powered samples (blueshift of single crystals and redshift of powdered samples) was observed. These distinct characters of 1 should be due to the different molecular packing modes, metallic interactions and the unique character of Ag(I) ion.

Crystal structure of bis(1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane-κ 2 P,P′)silver(I) trifluorosulfonate–methanol (1:0.5), [Ag(C27H26P2)]SO3CF3⋅0.5CH3OH

C55.50H54AgF3O3.50P4S, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 11.7859(10) Å, b = 12.8900(11) Å, c = 18.8971(17) Å, α = 109.742(2)°, β = 92.891(1)°, γ = 100.998(1)°, V = 2631.9(4) Å3, Z = 2, R gt(F) = 0.0405, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1129, T = 298(2) K.

Photoluminescence properties of TADF-emitting three-coordinate silver(i) halide complexes with diphosphine ligands: a comparison study with copper(i) complexes

A series of three- and four-coordinate silver(i) halide complexes exhibiting efficient blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence have been prepared.

Highly Efficient Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence in Dinuclear Ag(I) Complexes with a Bis-Bidentate Tetraphosphane Bridging Ligand

A series of highly emissive neutral dinuclear silver complexes [Ag(PPh₃)(X)]₂(tpbz) (tpbz = 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(diphenylphosphanyl)benzene; X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3)) was synthesized and structurally characterized. In the complexes, the silver atoms with tetradedral geometry are bridged by the tpbz ligand, and the ends of the molecules are coordinated by a halogen anion and a terminal triphenylphosphine ligand for each silver atom. These complexes exhibit intense white-blue (λ_max = 475 nm (1) and 471 nm (2)) and green (λ_max = 495 nm (3)) photoluminescence in the solid state with quantum yields of up to 98% (1) and emissive decay rates of up to 3.3 × 10⁵ s^-1 (1) at 298 K. With temperature decreasing from 298 to 77 K, a red shift of the emission maximum by 9 nm for all these complexes is observed. The temperature dependence of the luminescence for complex 1 in solid state indicates that the emission originates from two thermally equilibrated charge transfer (CT) excited states and exhibits highly efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) at ambient temperature. At 77 K, the decay time is 638 μs, indicating that the emission is mainly from a triplet state (T₁ state). With temperature increasing from 77 to 298 K, a significant decrease of the emissive decay time by a factor of almost 210 is observed, and at 298 K, the decay time is 3.0 μs. The remarkable decrease of the decay time indicates that thermal population of a short-lived singlet state (S₁ state) increases as the temperature increases. The charge transfer character of the excited states and TADF behavior of the complexes are interrogated by DFT and TDDFT calculations. The computational results demonstrate that the origin of TADF can be ascribed to ^1,3(ILCT + XLCT+ MLCT) states in complexes 1 and 2 and ^1,3(XLCT) states mixed with minor contributions of MLCT and ILCT in complex 3.

Intense blue emission and a reversible hypsochromic shift of luminescence caused by grinding based on silver(i) complexes

Highly blue-emissive silver(i) complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene and diphenylphosphinobenzene were newly synthesized. The reversible hypsochromic shift of the emission by the grinding process was observed.

Luminescent diphosphine fluorophenylthiolate silver(i) compounds that exhibit argentophilic interactions

Relatively small changes in the fluorophenylthiolate ligand of silver(i) bidentate phosphine compounds cause tangible effects on the emission maxima.

Adjustable coordination of a hybrid phosphine–phosphine oxide ligand in luminescent Cu, Ag and Au complexes

The mixed-donor ligand shows variable binding ability with respect to d¹⁰ metal ions to afford a series of mono- and dinuclear complexes with tunable photophysical characteristics.

Syntheses, Structures, Characterisation, and Spectroscopic Properties of CuI and AgI Complexes with Extended C–H···π and π···π Interactions

Based on the ligands N,N′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)benzene-1,4-diamine (pmb) and N,N′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)biphenyl-4,4′-diamine (pmbb), the three compounds [Cu2(pmb) (PPh3)2(Cl)2] (1), [Cu2(pmbb)(CH3CN)2(PPh3)2](BF4)2·2DMF (2), and [Ag2(pmbb)(PPh3)2] (ClO4)2 (3) have been synthesised and characterised. Structural analysis reveals that all of these complexes contain 1D supramolecular arrays, with different variations in π-stacking patterns and intermolecular C–H···π interactions. Crystal structures of 1 and 2 contain 1D tape-like arrays formed by C–H···π and π···π interactions, and an ordered-layer-lattice of DMF and BF4– in 2 is located between the one-dimensional array. For 3, π-stacking interactions lead to the construction of 1D supramolecular arrays and a 2D network. The results indicate that C–H···π and π···π interactions play an important role in the construction of the supramolecular structure. In addition, the absorption peaks of complexes 1 and 3 in the solid state at room temperature show intraligand charge transfer and metal-to-ligand charge transfer absorptions. The optical and fluorescent properties of 2 were also studied in acetonitrile solution at room temperature.

Syntheses, crystal structures and photophysical properties of Ag(I) coordination complexes

Three Ag(I) coordination complexes, [Ag(pyzca)]n (1) (Hpyzca=pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid), Ag[(HNA)(NA)(H2O)4] (2) (HNA=nicotinic acid) and [Ag1Ag2-(2,3-pydc)]n (3) (H2pydc=pyridine-2, 3-dicarboxylic acid) have been synthesized by the hydrothermal method. Their structures are determined by single-crystal X-ray diffractometer. Complex 1 possesses the 3D infinite structure. Complex 2 is a mononuclear coordination complex and exhibits one 3D infinite network by a large number of hydrogen bonds. In complex 3, two crystallographic independent Ag(I) ions exist, i.e., Ag1 is three-coordinate and Ag2 is two-coordinate, forming the 2D layer structure. At room temperature in the solid state, the IR, FP and UV-Vis spectra of all complexes were measured and investigated in detail. The emission and absorption spectra of the three complexes and their corresponding ligands are compared and analyzed.

Silver pyroarsonates obtained from Ag(I)-mediated in situ condensation of aryl arsonate ligands under solvothermal conditions

Four new layered silver(I) organoarsonates, namely, [Ag(3)(L(3))(CN)] (1) (H(2)L(3) = (PhAsO(2)H)(2)O), [Ag(3)(L(4))(CN)] (2) (H(2)L(4) = (2-NO(2)-C(6)H(4)-AsO(2)H)(2)O), [Ag(3)(HL(5))(H(2)L(5))] (3) (H(3)L(5) = 3-NO(2)-4-OH-C(6)H(3)-AsO(3)H(2)) and [Ag(2)(HL(5))] (4), were synthesized under solvothermal conditions. During the preparations of 1 and 2, condensation of organoarsonate ligands (H(2)L(1) = Ph-AsO(3)H(2); H(2)L(2) = 2-NO(2)-C(6)H(4)-AsO(3)H(2)) and the decomposition of acetonitrile molecules to cyanide anions occurred. Single crystals of H(2)L(4) ligand and compounds 1-4 were isolated, and their crystal structures have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In 1, the one-dimensional (1D) chains based on Ag(I) ions and {L(3)}(2-) anions are further interconnected by CN(-) into two-dimensional (2D) layers. In 2, adjacent Ag(I) ions within the silver(I) organoarsonate layer are further bridged by μ(4)-CN(-) anions with very short Ag···Ag contacts. In 3, the hexanuclear {Ag(6)O(12)} clusters are interconnected by bridging organoarsonate ligands into a silver(I) arsonate hybrid layer. In 4, the right-handed {Ag(4)O(4)} chains are further interconnected by organoarsonate ligands as well as additional Ag-O-Ag bridges into a novel silver(I) arsonate layer. Compounds 1 and 2 display red and orange-red emissions, respectively, which may be assigned to be an admixture of ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) and metal-centered (4d-5s/5p) transitions perturbed by Ag(I)···Ag(I) interactions. Upon cooling from room temperature to 10 K, compound 1 exhibits interesting temperature-dependent emissions.

Polymorph and isomer conversion of complexes based on CuI and PPh3 easily observed via luminescence

Reactions between copper(I) iodide and triphenylphosphine have been explored in solution and in the solid state and six luminescent coordination complexes have been obtained and characterized by X-ray diffraction and UV-vis spectroscopy and photophysics. Solid-state reactions of CuI with PPh(3) in different conditions (kneading, vapour digestion) and stoichiometries resulted in the formation of high ratio ligand:metal compounds while tetrameric structures could be obtained only by solution reactions. Crystal structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction while purity of the bulk product was checked by powder diffraction (XRPD). Three different tetrameric structures with 1:1 stoichiometry have been synthesized: two closed cubane-type polymorphs [CuI(PPh(3))](4) (form 1a) and [CuI(PPh(3))](4) (form 1b) and an open step-like isomer [CuI(PPh(3))](4) (form 2). The conversions between the polymorphs and isomers have been studied and characterized by XRPD. The most stable form [CuI(PPh(3))](4) (form 1b) can convert into the open step-like isomer [CuI(PPh(3))](4) (form 2) in a slurry experiment with EtOH or CH(2)Cl(2) or AcCN and converts back into [CuI(PPh(3))](4)1b when exposed to vapors of toluene. At room temperature all the tetrameric compounds exhibit luminescence in the solid state and, notably, the two polymorphs show a dissimilar dual emission at low temperature. The luminescence features in the solid state seem to be peculiarly related to the presence of the aromatic phosphine ligand and depend on the Cu-Cu distance in the cluster.