Intense Red-Blue Luminescence Based on Superfine Control of Metal–Metal Interactions for Self-Assembled Platinum(II) Complexes

A series of assembled Pt^II complexes comprising N-heterocyclic carbene and cyanide ligands was constructed using different substituent groups, [Pt(CN)₂(R-impy)] (R-impyH⁺=1-alkyl-3-(2-pyridyl)-1H-imidazolium, R=Me ( Pt-Me ), Et ( Pt-Et ), ⁱPr ( Pt- ⁱ Pr ), and ^tBu ( Pt- ^t Bu )). All the complexes exhibited highly efficient photoluminescence with an emission quantum yield of 0.51–0.81 in the solid state at room temperature, originating from the triplet metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer (³MMLCT) state. Their emission colors cover the entire visible region from red for Pt-Me to blue for Pt- ^t Bu . Importantly, Pt- ^t Bu is the first example that exhibits blue ³MMLCT emission. The ³MMLCT emission was proved and characterized based on the temperature dependences of the crystal structures and emission properties. The wide-range color tuning of luminescence using the ³MMLCT emission presents a new strategy of superfine control of the emission color.     

Mesomorphism and luminescence properties of platinum(II) complexes with tris(alkoxy)phenyl-functionalized pyridyl pyrazolate chelates

A series of new mesomorphic platinum(II) complexes 1 – 4 bearing pyridyl pyrazolate chelates are reported herein. In this approach, pyridyl azolate ligands have been strategically functionalized with tris(alkoxy)phenyl groups with various alkyl chain lengths. As a result, they are ascribed to a class of luminescent metallomesogens that possess distinctive morphological properties, such as their intermolecular packing arrangement and their associated photophysical behavior. In CH₂Cl₂, independent of the applied concentration in the range 10^?6–10^?3 M , all Pt^II complexes exhibit bright phosphorescence centered at around 520 nm, which is characteristic for monomeric Pt^II complexes. In stark contrast, the single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination of [Pt(C4pz)₂] ( 1 ) shows the formation of a dimeric aggregate with a notable Pt???Pt contact of 3.258 Å. Upon heating, all Pt^II complexes 1 – 4 melted to form columnar suprastructures, for which similar intracolumnar Pt???Pt distances of approx. 3.4–3.5 Å are observed within an exceptionally wide temperature range (>250 °C), according to the powder XRD data. Upon casting into a neat thin film at RT, the luminescence of 1 – 4 is dominated by a red emission that spans 630–660 nm, which originates from the one‐dimensional, chainlike structure with Pt–Pt interaction in the ground state. Taking complex 4 as a representative, the emission intensity and wavelength were significantly decreased and blueshifted, respectively, on heating from RT to 250 °C. Further heating to liquefy the sample alters the red emission back to the green phosphorescence of the monomer. The results highlight the pivotal role of tris(alkoxy)phenyl groups in the structural versus luminescence behavior of these Pt^II complexes.     

Multi-Stimuli-Responsive Properties of Aggregation-Enhanced Emission-Active Unsymmetrical PtII Metallomesogens through Self-Assembly

Herein, we report a series of unsymmetrical bispyrazolate-type Pt^II compounds that exhibit mesomorphism at low temperatures and photophysical multi-stimuli-responsive properties. These Pt^II compounds show a great ability to be self-assembled by intermolecular Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt interactions in the solid state, so generating a columnar stacking of molecules that is responsible for the formation of the mesophases. By controlling the nature of the molecular assembly through external stimuli such as the temperature, the pressure, or the presence of vapours or solvents, it is possible to modulate the luminescence behaviour of these materials. The Pt^II monomers emit a greenish light, whereas aggregation of molecules produces a redshifted emission. These metallomesogens also show a high stability and successive grinding/fuming cycles can be performed without degradation of the sample. The application of these materials is very attractive as rewritable luminescent platforms, and their use is already demonstrated.     

Luminescence Color Tuning of PtII Complexes and a Kinetic Study of Trimer Formation in the Photoexcited State

We investigated the luminescence properties and color tuning of [Pt(dpb)Cl] (dpbH=1,3‐di(2‐pyridyl)benzene) and its analogues. An almost blue emission was obtained for the complex [Pt(Fmdpb)CN] (FmdpbH=4‐fluoro‐1,3‐di(4‐methyl‐2‐pyridyl)benzene), modified by the introduction of ?F and ?CH₃ groups to the dpb ligand and the substitution of ?Cl by ?CN. As the concentration of the solution was increased, the color of the emission varied from blue to white to orange. The color change resulted from a monomer–excimer equilibrium in the excited state. A broad emission spectrum around 620 nm was clearly detected along with a structured monomer emission around 500 nm. Upon further increases in concentration, another broad peak appeared in the longer wavelength region of the spectrum. We assigned the near‐infrared band to the emission from an excited trimer generated by the reaction of the excimer with the ground‐state monomer. The emission lifetimes of the monomer, dimer, and trimer were evaluated as τ_M=12.8 μs, τ_D=2.13 μs, and τ_T=0.68 μs, respectively, which were sufficiently long to allow association with another Pt^II complex and dissociation into a lower order aggregate. Based on equilibrium constants determined from a kinetic study, the formation of the excimer and the excited trimer were concluded to be exothermic processes, with ΔG*_D=?24.5 kJ mol^?1 and ΔG*_T=?20.4 kJ mol^?1 respectively, at 300 K.     

Construction of Discrete Pentanuclear Platinum(II) Stacks with Extended Metal–Metal Interactions by Using Phosphorescent Platinum(II) Tweezers

Discrete pentanuclear Pt^II stacks were prepared by the host‐guest adduct formation between multinuclear tweezer‐type Pt^II complexes. The formation of the Pt^II stacks in solution was accompanied by color changes and the turning on of near‐infrared emission resulting from Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt and π–π interactions. The X‐ray crystal structure revealed the formation of a discrete 1:1 adduct, in which a linear stack of five Pt^II centers with extended Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt interactions was observed. Additional binding affinity and stability have been achieved through a multinuclear host‐guest system. The binding behaviors can be fine‐tuned by varying the spacer between the two Pt^II moieties in the guests. This work provides important insights for the construction of discrete higher‐order supramolecular metal‐ligand aggregates using a tweezer‐directed approach.     

Bluish-Green BMes2-Functionalized PtII Complexes for High Efficiency PhOLEDs: Impact of the BMes2 Location on Emission Color

New phosphorescent Pt^II compounds based on dimesitylboron (BMes₂)-functionalized 2-phenylpyridyl (ppy) N,C-chelate ligands and an acetylacetonato ancillary ligand have been achieved. We have found that BMes₂ substitution at the 4′-position of the phenyl ring can blue-shift the phosphorescent emission energy of the Pt^II compound by approximately 50 nm, compared to the 5′-BMes₂ substituted analogue, without substantial loss of luminescent quantum efficiencies. The emission color of the 4′-BMes₂ substituted Pt^II compound, Pt(Bppy)(acac) ( 1 ) can be further tuned by the introduction of a substituent group at the 3′-position of the phenyl ring. A methyl substituent red-shifts the emission energy of 1 by approximately 10 nm whereas a fluoro substituent blue-shifts the emission energy by about 6 nm. Using this strategy, three bright blue-green phosphorescent Pt^II compounds 1 , 2 and 3 with emission energy at 481, 492, and 475 nm and Φ_PL=0.43, 0.26 and 0.25, respectively, have been achieved. In addition, we have examined the impact of BMes₂ substitution on 3,5-dipyridylbenzene (dpb) N,C,N-chelate Pt^II compounds by synthesizing compound 4 , Pt(Bdpb)Cl, which has a BMes₂ group at the 4′-position of the benzene ring. Compound 4 has a phosphorescent emission band at 485 nm and Φ_PL=0.70. Highly efficient blue-green electroluminescent (EL) devices with a double-layer structure and compounds 1 , 3 or 4 as the phosphorescent dopant have been fabricated. At 100 cd m⁻² luminance, EL devices based on 1 , 3 and 4 with an external quantum efficiency of 4.7, 6.5 and 13.4 %, respectively, have been achieved.     

Cationic Platinum(II) σ‐SiH Complexes in Carbon Dioxide Hydrosilation

The low‐electron‐count cationic platinum complex [Pt(ItBu’)(ItBu)][BAr^F], 1 , interacts with primary and secondary silanes to form the corresponding σ‐SiH complexes. According to DFT calculations, the most stable coordination mode is the uncommon η¹‐SiH. The reaction of 1 with Et₂SiH₂ leads to the X‐ray structurally characterized 14‐electron Pt^II species [Pt(SiEt₂H)(ItBu)₂][BAr^F], 2 , which is stabilized by an agostic interaction. Complexes 1 , 2 , and the hydride [Pt(H)(ItBu)₂][BAr^F], 3 , catalyze the hydrosilation of CO₂, leading to the exclusive formation of the corresponding silyl formates at room temperature.     

Bis­[S‐methyl 3‐(2‐bromo­benzyl­idene)­di­thio­cab­aza­to‐N3,S]­platinum(II)

The Schiff base ligand in the title complex, [Pt(C₉H₈BrN₂S₂)₂], is deprotonated from its tautomeric thiol form and coordinated to Pt^IIvia the mercapto S and β–N atoms. The configuration about Pt^II is a perfect square‐planar, with two equivalent Pt—N [2.023 (3) Å] and Pt—S [2.293 (1) Å] bonds. The phenyl ring is twisted against the coordination moiety Pt1/N1/N1′/S2′/S2 by 31.8 (2)°, due to the steric hindrance induced by ortho‐substituted bulky Br atom.     

Solvent-specific reduction of Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>PtI<Subscript>6</Subscript> in acetone

Oxidation state of iodide complexes of Pt^II and Pt^IV in large excess of NaI with respect to platinum in water and acetone solution has been determined by means of ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopy. In acetone, iodide complexes of Pt^IV are almost quantitatively reduced into Pt^II, and iodine is bound in a poorly soluble polymeric complex with sodium iodide and acetone. Iodometric titration has revealed the formation of equivalent amount of iodine. Reduction of platinum has not been observed in aqueous medium.     

A one‐dimensional chloride‐bridged PtII/PtIV mixed‐valence complex with a 4‐[(4‐hydroxyphenyl)diazenyl]benzenesulfonate counter‐ion

The title compound, catena‐poly[[[bis(ethylenediamine‐κ²N,N′)platinum(II)]‐ μ‐chlorido‐[bis(ethylenediamine)platinum(IV)]‐μ‐chlorido] tetrakis{4‐[(4‐hydroxyphenyl)diazenyl]benzenesulfonate} dihydrate], {[Pt^IIPt^IVCl₂(C₂H₈N₂)₄](HOC₆H₄N=NC₆H₄SO₃)₄·2H₂O}_n, has a linear chain structure composed of square‐planar [Pt(en)₂]²⁺ (en is ethylenediamine) and elongated octahedral trans‐[PtCl₂(en)₂]²⁺ cations stacked alternately, bridged by Cl atoms, along the b axis. The Pt atoms are located on an inversion centre, while the Cl atoms are disordered over two sites and form a zigzag ...Cl—Pt^IV—Cl...Pt^II... chain, with a Pt^IV—Cl bond length of 2.3140 (14) Å, an interatomic Pt^II...Cl distance of 3.5969 (15) Å and a Pt^IV—Cl...Pt^II angle of 170.66 (6)°. The structural parameter indicating the mixed‐valence state of the Pt atom, expressed by δ = (Pt^IV—Cl)/(Pt^II...Cl), is 0.643.     

Observation of the Properties of a Single Unit of a Limited CDW Structure in a PtII/PtIV Host–Guest Binary System Based on a Square‐Shaped Complex

A macrocyclic tetranuclear platinum(II) complex [Pt(en)(4,4′‐bpy)]₄(NO₃)₈ ( 1 ?(NO₃)₈; en=ethylenediamine, 4,4′‐bpy=4,4′‐bipyridine) and a mononuclear platinum(IV) complex [Pt(en)₂Br₂]Br₂ ( 2 ?Br₂) formed two kinds of Pt^II/Pt^IV mixed valence assemblies when reacted: a discrete host–guest complex 1 ? 2 ?Br₁₀ ( 3 ) and an extended 1‐D zigzag sheet 1 ?( 2 )₃?Br₈(NO₃)₆ ( 4 ). Single crystal X‐ray analysis showed that the dimensions of the assemblies could be stoichiometrically controlled. Resonance Raman spectra suggested the presence of an intervalence interaction, which is typically observed for quasi‐1‐D halogen‐bridged M^II/M^IV complexes. The intervalence interaction indicates the presence of an isolated {Pt^II???X? Pt^IV? X???Pt^II} moiety in the structure of 4 . On the basis of electronic spectra and polarized reflectance measurements, we conclude that 4 exhibits intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) bands. A Kramers–Kronig transformation was carried out to obtain an optical conductivity spectrum, and two sub‐bands corresponding to slightly different Pt^II–Pt^IV distances were observed.     

A one‐dimensional iodine‐bridged PtII/PtIV mixed‐valence complex,catena‐poly[[[bis­(ethyl­ene­diamine)­platinum(II)]‐μ‐iodo‐[bis­(ethyl­ene­di­amine)platinum(IV)]‐μ‐iodo] hydrogenphosphate dihydrogenphosphate iodide trihydrate]

The title compound, {[Pt^IIPt^IVI₂(C₂H₈N₂)₄](HPO₄)(H₂PO₄)I·3H₂O}_n, has a chain structure composed of square‐planar [Pt(en)₂]²⁺ and elongated octa­hedral trans‐[PtI₂(en)₂]²⁺ cations (en is ethyl­ene­diamine) stacked alternately along the c axis and bridged by the I atoms; a three‐dimensionally valence‐ordered system exists with respect to the Pt sites. The title compound also has a unique cyclic tetra­mer structure composed of two hydrogenphosphate and two dihydrogenphosphate ions connected by strong hydrogen bonds [O⋯O = 2.522 (10), 2.567 (10) and 2.569 (11) Å]. The Pt and I atoms form a zigzag ⋯I—Pt^IV—I⋯Pt^II⋯ chain, with Pt^IV—I bond distances of 2.6997 (7) and 2.6921 (7) Å, inter­atomic Pt^II⋯I distances of 3.3239 (8) and 3.2902 (7) Å, and Pt^IV—I⋯Pt^II angles of 154.52 (3) and 163.64 (3)°. The structural parameters indicating the mixed‐valence state of platinum, expressed by δ = (Pt^IV—I)/(Pt^II—I), are 0.812 and 0.818 for the two independent I atoms.     

Porphyrin/Platinum(II) C^N^N Acetylide Complexes: Synthesis,Photophysical Properties,and Singlet Oxygen Generation

A new class of substituted porphyrins has been developed in which a different number of cyclometalated Pt^II C^N^N acetylides and polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains are attached to the meso positions of the porphyrin core, which are meant for photophysical, electrochemical, and in vitro light‐induced singlet oxygen (¹O₂) generation studies. All of these Zn^II porphyrin–Pt^II C^N^N acetylide conjugates show moderate to high (Φ_Δ=0.55 to 0.63) singlet oxygen generation efficiency. The complexes are soluble in organic solvents but, despite the PEG substituents, slowly aggregate in aqueous solvent systems. These conjugates also exhibit interesting photophysical properties, including near‐complete photoinduced energy transfer (PEnT) through the rigid acetylenic bond(s) from the Pt^II C^N^N antenna units to the Zn^II porphyrin core, which shows sensitized luminescence, as shown by quenching of Pt^II C^N^N‐based luminescence. Electrochemical measurements show a set of redox processes that are approximately the sum of what is observed for the Pt^II C^N^N acetylide and Zn^II porphyrin units. UV/Vis spectroscopic properties are supported by DFT calculations.     

Isolation of a Cationic Platinum(II) σ‐Silane Complex

The platinum complex [Pt(I^tBuⁱPr′)(I^tBuⁱPr)][BAr^F] interacts with tertiary silanes to form stable (<0 °C) mononuclear Pt^II σ‐SiH complexes [Pt(I^tBuⁱPr′)(I^tBuⁱPr)(η¹‐HSiR₃)][BAr^F]. These compounds have been fully characterized, including X‐ray diffraction methods, as the first examples for platinum. DFT calculations (including electronic topological analysis) support the interpretation of the coordination as an unusual η¹‐SiH. However, the energies required for achieving a η²‐SiH mode are rather low, and is consistent with the propensity of these derivatives to undergo Si?H cleavage leading to the more stable silyl species [Pt(SiR₃)(I^tBuⁱPr)₂][BAr^F] at room temperature.     

Supramolecular Polymers Self‐Assembled from trans‐Bis(pyridine) Dichloropalladium(II) and Platinum(II) Complexes

Two structurally similar trans‐bis(pyridine) dichloropalladium(II)‐ and platinum(II)‐type complexes were synthesized and characterized. They both self‐assemble in n‐hexane to form viscous fluids at lower concentrations, but form metallogels at sufficient concentrations. The viscous solutions were studied by capillary viscosity measurements and UV/Vis absorption spectra monitored during the disassembly process indicated that a metallophilic interaction was involved in the supramolecular polymerization process. For the two supramolecular assemblies, uncommon continuous porous networks were observed by using SEM and TEM revealed that they were built from nanofibers that fused and crosslinked with the increase of concentration. The xerogels of the palladium and platinum complexes were carefully studied by using synchrotron radiation WAXD and EXAFS. The WAXD data show close stacking distances driven by π–π and metal–metal interactions and an evident dimer structure for the platinum complex was found. The coordination bond lengths were extracted from fitting of the EXAFS data. Moreover, close Pt^II–Pt^II (Pd^II–Pd^II) and Pt?Cl (Pd?Cl) interactions proposed from DFT calculations in the reported oligo(phenylene ethynylene) (OPE)‐based palladium(II) pyridyl supramolecular polymers were also confirmed by using EXAFS. The Pt^II–Pt^II interaction is more feasible for supramolecular interaction than the Pd^II–Pd^II interaction in our simple case.     

Unusual Metal–Metal Bonding in a Dinuclear Pt–Au Complex: Snapshot of a Transmetalation Process

The dinuclear Pt–Au complex [(CNC)(PPh₃)Pt Au(PPh₃)](ClO₄) ( 2 ) (CNC=2,6‐diphenylpyridinate) was prepared. Its crystal structure shows a rare metal–metal bonding situation, with very short Pt–Au and Au–C_ipso(CNC) distances and dissimilar Pt–C_ipso(CNC) bonds. Multinuclear NMR spectra of 2 show the persistence of the Pt–Au bond in solution and the occurrence of unusual fluxional behavior involving the [Pt^II] and [Au^I] metal fragments. The [Pt^II]??? [Au^I] interaction has been thoroughly studied by means of DFT calculations. The observed bonding situation in 2 can be regarded as a model for an intermediate in a transmetalation process.     

Pincer‐Type Platinum(II) Complexes Containing N‐Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Ligand: Structures,Photophysical and Anion‐Binding Properties,and Anticancer Activities

Two classes of pincer‐type Pt^II complexes containing tridentate N‐donor ligands ( 1 – 8 ) or C‐deprotonated N^C^N ligands derived from 1,3‐di(2‐pyridyl)benzene ( 10 – 13 ) and auxiliary N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand were synthesized. [Pt(trpy)(NHC)]²⁺ complexes 1 – 5 display green phosphorescence in CH₂Cl₂ (Φ: 1.1–5.3 %; τ: 0.3–1.0 μs) at room temperature. Moderate‐to‐intense emissions are observed for 1 – 7 in glassy solutions at 77 K and for 1 – 6 in the solid state. The [Pt(N^C^N)(NHC)]⁺ complexes 10 – 13 display strong green phosphorescence with quantum yields up to 65 % in CHCl₃. The reactions of 1 with a wide variety of anions were examined in various solvents. The tridentate N‐donor ligand of 1 undergoes displacement reaction with CN^? in protic solvents. Similar displacement of the N^C^N ligand by CN^? has been observed for 10 , leading to a luminescence “switch‐off” response. The water‐soluble 7 containing anthracenyl‐functionalized NHC ligand acts as a light “switch‐on” sensor for the detection of CN^? ion with high selectivity. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the Pt^II complexes towards HeLa cells has been evaluated. Complex 12 showed high cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ value of 0.46 μM , whereas 1 – 4 and 6 – 8 are less cytotoxic. The cellular localization of the strongly luminescent complex 12 traced by using emission microscopy revealed that it mainly localizes in the cytoplasmic structures rather than in the nucleus. This complex can induce mitochondria dysfunction and subsequent cell death.     

Highly Efficient Deep‐Blue Emitters Based on cis and trans N‐Heterocyclic Carbene PtII Acetylide Complexes: Synthesis,Photophysical Properties,and Mechanistic Studies

We have synthesized cis and trans N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) platinum(II) complexes bearing σ‐alkynyl ancillary ligands, namely [Pt(dbim)₂(C?CR)₂] [DBIM=N,N′‐didodecylbenzimidazoline‐2‐ylidene; R=C₆H₄F ( 4 ), C₆H₅ ( 5 ), C₆H₂(OMe)₃ ( 6 ), C₄H₃S ( 7 ), and C₆H₄C?CC₆H₅ ( 8 )] and [Pt(ibim)₂(C?CC₆H₅)₂] ( 9 ) (ibim=N,N′‐diisopropylbenzimidazoline‐2‐ylidene), starting from [Pt(cod)(C?CR)₂] (COD=cyclooctadiene) and 2 equivalents of [dbimH]Br ([ibimH]Br for complexes 9 ) in the presence of tBuOK and THF. Mechanistic investigations aimed at uncovering the cis to trans isomerization reaction have been performed on the representative cis complex 5 a [Pt(dbim)₂(C?CC₆H₅)₂] and revealed the isomerization to progress smoothly in good yield when 5 a was treated with catalytic amounts of [Pt(cod)(C?CR)₂] at 75 °C in THF or when 5 a was heated at 200 °C in the solid state under an inert atmosphere. Detailed examination of the reactions points to the possible involvement, in a catalytic fashion, of a solvent‐stabilized Pt^II dialkyne complex in the former case and a Pt⁰ NHC complex in the latter case, for the transformation of the cis isomer to the corresponding trans complex. Thermal stability and the isomerization process in the solid state have been further investigated on the basis of TGA and DSC measurements. X‐ray diffraction studies have been carried out to confirm the solid‐state structures of 4 b , 5 a , 5 b , and 9 b . All of the synthesized dialkyne complexes 4 – 9 exhibit phosphorescence in solution, in the solid state at room temperature (RT), and also in frozen solvent glasses at 77 K. The emission wavelengths and quantum yields have been found to be highly tunable as a function of the alkynyl ligand. In particular, the trans isomer of complex 9 in a spin‐coated film (10 wt % in poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA) exhibits a high phosphorescence quantum yield of 80 %, which is the highest reported for Pt^II‐based deep‐blue emitters. Experimental observations and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations are strongly indicative of the emission being mainly governed by metal‐perturbed interligand (³IL) charge transfer.     

Platinum‐Containing Polyoxometalates: syn‐ and anti‐[PtII2(α‐PW11O39)2]10− and Formation of the Metal–Metal‐Bonded di‐PtIII Derivatives

The first examples of dimeric, di‐Pt^II‐containing heteropolytungstates are reported. The two isomeric di‐platinum(II)‐containing 22‐tungsto‐2‐phosphates [anti‐Pt^II₂(α‐PW₁₁O₃₉)₂]^10? ( 1 a ) and [syn‐Pt^II₂(α‐PW₁₁O₃₉)₂]^10? ( 2 a ) were synthesized in aqueous pH 3.5 medium using one‐pot procedures. Polyanions 1 a and 2 a contain a core comprising two face‐on PtO₄ units, with a Pt???Pt distance of 2.9–3 Å. Both polyanions were investigated by single‐crystal XRD, IR, TGA, UV/Vis, ³¹P NMR, ESI‐MS, CID‐MS/MS, electrochemistry, and DFT. On the basis of DFT and electrochemistry, we demonstrated that the {Pt₂^II} moiety in 1 a and 2 a can undergo fully reversible two‐electron oxidation to {Pt₂^III}, accompanied by formation of a single Pt?Pt bond. Hence we have discovered the novel subclass of Pt^III‐containing heteropolytungstates.     

Crystal structure and photoluminescence properties of a new monomeric copper(II) complex: bis(3‐{[(3‐hydroxypropyl)imino]methyl}‐4‐nitrophenolato‐κ3O,N,O′)copper(II)

Copper(II)–Schiff base complexes have attracted extensive interest due to their structural, electronic, magnetic and luminescence properties. The title novel monomeric Cu^II complex, [Cu(C₁₀H₁₁N₂O₄)₂], has been synthesized by the reaction of 3‐{[(3‐hydroxypropyl)imino]methyl}‐4‐nitrophenol (H₂L ) and copper(II) acetate monohydrate in methanol, and was characterized by elemental analysis, UV and IR spectroscopies, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis and a photoluminescence study. The Cu^II atom is located on a centre of inversion and is coordinated by two imine N atoms, two phenoxy O atoms in a mutual trans disposition and two hydroxy O atoms in axial positions, forming an elongated octahedral geometry. In the crystal, intermolecular O—H…O hydrogen bonds link the molecules to form a one‐dimensional chain structure and π–π contacts also connect the molecules to form a three‐dimensional structure. The solid‐state photoluminescence properties of the complex and free H₂L have been investigated at room temperature in the visible region. When the complex and H₂L are excited under UV light at 349 nm, the complex displays a strong green emission at 520 nm and H₂L displays a blue emission at 480 nm.