Naked-eye repeatable off–on–off and on–off–on switching luminescence of copper(i)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline complexes with reversible acid–base responses

Fifty Shades of Phenanthroline: Synthesis Strategies to Functionalize 1,10-Phenanthroline in All Positions

1,10-Phenanthroline (phen) is one of the most popular ligands ever used in coordination chemistry due to its strong affinity for a wide range of metals with various oxidation states. Its polyaromatic structure provides robustness and rigidity, leading to intriguing features in numerous fields (luminescent coordination scaffolds, catalysis, supramolecular chemistry, sensors, theranostics, etc.). Importantly, phen offers eight distinct positions for functional groups to be attached, showcasing remarkable versatility for such a simple ligand. As a result, phen has become a landmark molecule for coordination chemists, serving as a must-use ligand and a versatile platform for designing polyfunctional arrays. The extensive use of substituted phenanthroline ligands with different metal ions has resulted in a diverse array of complexes tailored for numerous applications. For instance, these complexes have been utilized as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells, as luminescent probes modified with antibodies for biomaterials, and in the creation of elegant supramolecular architectures like rotaxanes and catenanes, exemplified by Sauvage's Nobel Prize-winning work in 2016. In summary, phen has found applications in almost every facet of chemistry. An intriguing aspect of phen is the specific reactivity of each pair of carbon atoms ([2,9], [3,8], [4,7], and [5,6]), enabling the functionalization of each pair with different groups and leading to polyfunctional arrays. Furthermore, it is possible to differentiate each position in these pairs, resulting in non-symmetrical systems with tremendous versatility. In this Review, the authors aim to compile and categorize existing synthetic strategies for the stepwise polyfunctionalization of phen in various positions. This comprehensive toolbox will aid coordination chemists in designing virtually any polyfunctional ligand. The survey will encompass seminal work from the 1950s to the present day. The scope of the Review will be limited to 1,10-phenanthroline, excluding ligands with more intracyclic heteroatoms or fused aromatic cycles. Overall, the primary goal of this Review is to highlight both old and recent synthetic strategies that find applicability in the mentioned applications. By doing so, the authors hope to establish a first reference for phenanthroline synthesis, covering all possible positions on the backbone, and hope to inspire all concerned chemists to devise new strategies that have not yet been explored.

Mechanochromic and Selective Vapochromic Solid-State Luminescence of a Dinuclear Cuprous Complex

The unraveling of the stimuli-responsive mechanism is crucial to the design and precise synthesis of stimuli-responsive luminescent materials. We report herein the mechanochromic and selective vapochromic solid-state luminescence properties of a new bimetallic cuprous complex [{Cu(bpmtzH)}2(μ-dppm)2](ClO4)2 (1), and the corresponding response mechanisms are elucidated by investigating its two different solvated polymorphs 1·2CH2Cl2 (1-g) and 1·2CHCl3 (1-c). Green-emissive 1-g and cyan-emissive 1-c can be interconverted upon alternate exposure to CHCl3 and CH2Cl2 vapors, which is principally attributable to a combined alteration of both intermolecular NHbpmtzH···OClO3- hydrogen bonds and intramolecular "triazolyl/phenyl" π···π interactions induced by different solvents. Solid-state luminescence mechanochromism present in 1-g and 1-c is mainly ascribed to the grinding-induced breakage of the NHbpmtzH···OClO3- hydrogen bonds. It is suggested that intramolecular π···π-triazolyl/phenyl interactions are affected by different solvents but not by grinding. The results provide new insights into the design and precise synthesis of multi-stimuli-responsive luminescent materials by the comprehensive use of intermolecular hydrogen bonds and intramolecular π···π interactions.

Photoactive Copper Complexes: Properties and Applications

Photocatalyzed and photosensitized chemical processes have seen growing interest recently and have become among the most active areas of chemical research, notably due to their applications in fields such as medicine, chemical synthesis, material science or environmental chemistry. Among all homogeneous catalytic systems reported to date, photoactive copper(I) complexes have been shown to be especially attractive, not only as alternative to noble metal complexes, and have been extensively studied and utilized recently. They are at the core of this review article which is divided into two main sections. The first one focuses on an exhaustive and comprehensive overview of the structural, photophysical and electrochemical properties of mononuclear copper(I) complexes, typical examples highlighting the most critical structural parameters and their impact on the properties being presented to enlighten future design of photoactive copper(I) complexes. The second section is devoted to their main areas of application (photoredox catalysis of organic reactions and polymerization, hydrogen production, photoreduction of carbon dioxide and dye-sensitized solar cells), illustrating their progression from early systems to the current state-of-the-art and showcasing how some limitations of photoactive copper(I) complexes can be overcome with their high versatility.

Photophysical properties of homobimetallic Cu(i)–Cu(i) and heterobimetallic Cu(i)–Ag(i) complexes of 2-(6-bromo-2-pyridyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline

The heteronuclear Cu(i)–Ag(i) complexes show dual emission bands and enhanced luminescence compared with their isostructural homobinuclear Cu(i) complexes.

Efficiently luminescent mononuclear copper iodide complexes with sterically hindered iminephosphine chelating ligands

Cu(i) complexes realize high luminescence properties due to steric hindrances of the ligands and synergistic heavy atom (Cu and I) effects.

Terahertz time-domain absorption spectra of Cu(i) complexes bearing tetraphosphine ligands: the bridge between the C–H⋯π and π⋯π interactions and photoluminescence properties

The terahertz spectrum bridges the luminescence and C–H⋯π and π⋯π interactions of Cu(i) complexes.

Copper(i) ionic complexes based on imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin diimine chelating ligands: crystal structures, and photo- and electroluminescence properties

Four new luminescent diimine Cu(i) complexes have been synthesized and applied in organic light-emitting diodes.

The shiny side of copper: bringing copper(i) light-emitting electrochemical cells closer to application

Heteroleptic [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF₆] complexes, where N^N is 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (5,5′-Me₂bpy), 4,5,6-trimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (4,5,6-Me₃bpy), 6-(tert-butyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (6-tBubpy) and 2-ethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (2-Etphen) and P^P is either bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)ether (POP, PIN [oxydi(2,1-phenylene)]bis(diphenylphosphane)) or 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (xantphos, PIN (9,9-dimethyl-9H-xanthene-4,5-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphane)) have been synthesized and their NMR spectroscopic, mass spectrometric, structural, electrochemical and photophysical properties were investigated. The single-crystal structures of [Cu(POP)(5,5′-Me₂bpy)][PF₆], [Cu(xantphos)(5,5′-Me₂bpy)][PF₆], [Cu(POP)(6-tBubpy)][PF₆], [Cu(POP)(4,5,6-Me₃bpy)][PF₆]·1.5Et₂O, [Cu(xantphos)(4,5,6-Me₃bpy)][PF₆]·2.33CH₂Cl₂, [Cu(POP)(2-Etphen)][PF₆] and [Cu(xantphos)(2-Etphen)][PF₆] are described. While alkyl substituents in general exhibit electron-donating properties, variation in the nature and substitution-position of the alkyl group in the N^N chelate leads to different effects in the photophysical properties of the [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF₆] complexes. In the solid state, the complexes are yellow to green emitters with emission maxima between 518 and 602 nm, and photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) ranging from 1.1 to 58.8%. All complexes show thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). The complexes were employed in the active layer of light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs). The device performance properties are among the best reported for copper-based LECs, with maximum luminance values of up to 462 cd m⁻² and device half-lifetimes of up to 98 hours.

Heteroleptic copper(i) complexes with bisphosphanes and astutely tuned N^N chelating ligands as emitters give bright LECs with record-breaking stability.

Synthesis and Characterization of Three New Emissive Mononuclear CuI Heteroleptic Complexes with Functionalized 6-Cyano-2,2′-bipyridine Chelating Ligands

A new series of luminescent mononuclear CuI complexes with functionalized 6-cyano-2,2′-bipyridine chelating ligands, [Cu(xantphos)(cbpy)]ClO4 (1), [Cu(xantphos)(4,4’-Me2cbpy)]ClO4·CH2Cl2·H2O (2), and [Cu(POP)(cbpy)]ClO4·CH2Cl2 (3) (xantphos=4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene; POP=bis(2-diphenylphosphinophenyl)ether; 4,4’-Me2cbpy=4,4’-dimethyl-6-cyano-2,2′-bipyridine; cbpy=6-cyano-2,2′-bipyridine) have been successfully prepared, and their structures and photophysical properties are investigated. Single crystal structures of the three complexes reveal a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry around the CuI centres with the P atoms of diphosphane ligands and N donors of 2,2′-bipyridine ring. Luminescence measurements indicate that these CuI complexes display good emission properties both in the solution and solid states at room temperature, which can be well modulated through modifying the structure of 6-cyano-2,2′-bipyridine. It is shown that the introduction of two electron-donating methyl groups at the 4,4’-positions of the 6-cyano-2,2′-bipyridine is favourable to enhance the luminescence properties of the CuI complexes.

Hinged and Wide: A New P^P Ligand for Emissive [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF6] Complexes

Heteroleptic [Cu(BIPHEP)(N^N)][PF6] complexes (BIPHEP = 1,1'-biphenyl-2,2'-diylbis(diphenylphosphane)), in which N^N is 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 6-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine (6-Mebpy), 6-ethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (6-Etbpy), or 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (5,5'-Me2bpy), have been synthesized and characterized using multinuclear NMR spectroscopies and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The single crystal structures of [Cu(BIPHEP)(bpy)][PF6]∙CH2Cl2, [Cu(BIPHEP)(5,5'-Me2bpy)][PF6]∙CH2Cl2, [Cu(BIPHEP)(6-Mebpy)][PF6]∙Et2O∙0.5H2O and [Cu(BIPHEP)(6-Etbpy)][PF6] confirm distorted tetrahedral {Cu(P^P)(N^N)} coordination environments. Each compound shows a quasi-reversible Cu+/Cu2+ process. In deaerated solution, the compounds are weak emitters. Powdered samples are yellow emitters (λemmax in the range 558-583 nm) and [Cu(BIPHEP)(5,5'-Me2bpy)][PF6] exhibits the highest photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY = 14%). On cooling to 77 K (frozen 2-methyloxolane), the emission maxima are red-shifted and the excited state lifetimes increase from τ1/2 < 8 μs, to τ1/2 values of up to 53 μs, consistent with the compounds with N^N = 6-Mebpy, 6-Etbpy and 5,5'-Me2bpy exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF).