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.).

A Phosphine-ß-diketiminate Nickel(I)-Complex for Small Molecule Activation

A bis(diphenyl)-phosphine functionalized ß-diketimine ligand (PNac-H) was applied for the synthesis of a subvalent Ni(I) complex [PNac-Ni]. Here, the Ni(I) center is stabilized by a tetradentate PNNP-type pocket, forming a square planar coordination sphere. Subsequently, the Ni(I) complex was investigated with regard to its reactivity and the activation of small molecules. The reductive potential of Ni(I) enabled an activation of different substrate classes, such as CH2 X2 (X=Br, I), I2 or Ph2 E2 (E=S, Se). The ligand's design allows a stabilization of the reactive Ni(I) species while at the same time enabling activation processes due to a hemilabile coordination behavior and accessible axial coordination sites. The activation products have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis.

2-(Dimethylamino)phosphinine: A Phosphorus-Containing Aniline Derivative

The yet unknown 2-amino-substituted λ³ ,σ² -phosphinines are phosphorus-containing aniline derivatives. Calculations show that the strong interaction of the π-donating NR₂  group with the aromatic system results in a high π-density at the phosphorus atom. We could now synthesize 2-N(CH₃ )₂ -functionalized phosphinines, starting from a 3-N(CH₃ )₂ -substituted 2-pyrone and (CH₃ )₃ Si-C≡P. Their reaction with CuBr⋅S(CH₃ )₂ affords Cu^I  complexes with the first example of a neutral phosphinine acting as a rare bridging μ₂ -P-4e donor-ligand between two Cu^I  centers. Our experimental and theoretical investigations show that 2-aminophosphinines are missing links in the series of known 2-donor-functionalized phosphinines.

A modular approach to neutral P,N-ligands: synthesis and coordination chemistry

We report the modular synthesis of three different types of neutral κ²-P,N-ligands comprising an imine and a phosphine binding site. These ligands were reacted with rhodium, iridium and palladium metal precursors and the structures of the resulting complexes were elucidated by means of X-ray crystallography. We observed that subtle changes of the ligand backbone have a significant influence on the binding geometry und coordination properties of these bidentate P,N-donors.