Dimensionality of luminescent coordination polymers of magnesium ions and 1,1′-ethynebenzene-3,3′,5,5′-tetracarboxylic acid modulated by structural inducing agents

Comprehensively understanding the steric hindrance effect on the coordination sphere of Pb2+ ions and photophysical nature of two luminescent Pb(ii)-coordination polymers

New luminescent Pb(ii)-coordination polymers (Pb(ii)-CPs), [Pb(2-anc)₂]_n (1) and [Pb(3-qlc)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (2) (2-anc = 2-aminonicotinate, 3-qlc = 3-quinolinecarboxylate), were synthesized by a solvothermal reaction and characterized using microanalysis, IR spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis. Single crystal structure analysis revealed that the Pb²⁺ ion displays a hemi-directed coordination geometry in 1 and a holo-directed coordination geometry in 2. The difference between the coordination spheres of 1 and 2 is related to the steric hindrance effect of the ligands. A two-dimensional (2D) corrugated layer structure is formed in 1, and the neighboring layers are further extended into a three-dimensional (3D) van der Waals crystal by ππ interactions between the pyridyl rings in the neighboring layers. In contrast, a one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymeric chain is formed in 2, and the adjacent chains are connected in a 2D network by hydrogen bonds. The photophysical properties of 1 and 2 were studied at ambient conditions, disclosing that 1 emits phosphorescence at 548 nm with a millisecond-scale emission lifetime and an absolute quantum yield of 2.2%; 2 emits only blue fluorescence with an absolute quantum yield of 3.5% and nanosecond-scale emission lifetime. The reasons for the difference in the photophysical nature of 1 and 2 are discussed in regards to the electron band structure and density of states analysis.

Metal ion coordination enhancing quantum efficiency of ligand phosphorescence in a double-stranded helical chain coordination polymer of Pb2+ with nicotinic acid

A new 1D phosphorescence coordination polymer (CP) [Pb2O(C6H4NO2)2]n (1; C6H4NO2 = nicotinate) was synthesized by a solvothermal reaction and PbO was used as a Pb(ii) source instead of traditional Pb(ii) salts. This remarkably thermal-stable CP crystallizes in the space group I41/a. In the crystal structure of 1, two different Pb(ii) ions show a five-coordinated and hemidirected coordination geometry, two nonequivalent nicotinate ligands link to Pb(ii) ions in μ2-η1:η1 and μ4-η2:η2 modes, and the hemidirected coordination polyhedra of Pb(ii) form a helical lead-oxide chain via an edge-sharing fashion along the c-axis. Under ambient conditions, 1 emits cyan ligand-based phosphorescence with an absolute quantum yield as high as 59.4% and a lifetime of 9.86 ms under UV-light irradiation. Under the same conditions, nicotinic acid emits simultaneously fluorescence and phosphorescence with a total absolute quantum yield of 4.8%. The great enhancement of phosphorescence quantum yield in 1, regarding nicotinic acid, is assigned to the heavy atom effect of Pb(ii) and negligible ππ interaction between pyridyl rings. Noticeably, the vibronic fine structure is observed in the emission spectrum of 1 at room temperature. Additionally, 1 shows thermochromic behavior, and such functionality probably has realistic application in the field of temperature detection.