Two cyclometalated Pt(ii) complexes showing reversible phosphorescence switching due to grinding-induced destruction and crystallization-induced formation of supramolecular dimer structure

Two Pt(ii) complexes 1 and 2 reveal similar supramolecular dimer structure, in which two [Pt(dfppy/ppy)(pbdtmi)]+ cations connect each other through the π⋯π stacking interaction. Thus these complexes show reversible phosphorescence switching by grinding and crystallization with toluene.

Triple responsive room temperature luminescence, photochromism and photomagnetism in a Dy(iii)-based linear chain complex

Triple responses of room temperature fluorescence, photochromism and photomagnetism tuned by photo/thermo-switched radicals were realized in a Dy(iii)-based metal–organic complex.

Aggregation-Induced Electrochemiluminescence from a Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complex

Aggregation-induced emission has been extensively found in organic compounds and metal complexes. In contrast, aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence (AI-ECL) is rarely observed. Here, we employ two tridentate ligands [2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (tpy) and 1,3-bis(1 H-benzimidazol-2-yl)benzene (bbbiH₃)] to construct a cyclometalated iridium(III) complex, [Ir(tpy)(bbbi)] (1), showing strong AI-ECL. Its crystal structure indicates that neighboring [Ir(tpy)(bbbi)] molecules are connected through both π-π-stacking interactions and hydrogen bonds. These supramolecular interactions can facilitate the self-assembly of complex 1 into nanoparticles in an aqueous solution. The efficient restriction of molecular vibration in these nanoparticles leads to strong AI-ECL emission of complex 1. In a dimethyl sulfoxide-water (H₂O) mixture with a gradual increase in the H₂O fraction from 20% to 98%, complex 1 showed a ∼39-fold increase in the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity, which was ∼4.04 times as high as that of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ under the same experimental conditions. Moreover, the binding of bovine serum albumin to the nanoparticles of complex 1 can improve the ECL emission of this complex, facilitating the understanding of the mechanism of AI-ECL for future applications.