Three different fluorescent responses to transition metal ions using receptors based on 1,2-bis- and 1,2,4,5-tetrakis-(8-hydroxyquinolinoxymethyl)benzene

The dipod 1,2-bis(8-hydroxyquinolinoxymethyl)benzene (3) and tetrapod 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(8-hydroxyquinolinoxymethyl)benzene (5) have been synthesized through nucleophilic substitution of respective 1,2-bis(bromomethyl)benzene (2) and 1,2,4,5-tetra(bromomethyl)benzene (4) with 8-hydroxyquinoline (1). For comparison, 1,3,5-tris(8-hydroxyquinolinoxymethyl)benzene derivatives (7a and 7b) have been obtained. The complexation behavior of these podands towards Ag⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cd²⁺ metal ions has been investigated in acetonitrile by fluorescence spectroscopy. The sterically crowded 1,2,4,5-tetrapod 5 displays unique fluorescence ‘ON-OFF-ON’ switching through fluorescence quenching (λ_max 395 nm, switch OFF) with <1.0 equiv of Ag⁺ and fluorescence enhancement (λ_max 495 nm, switch ON) with >3 equiv Ag⁺ and can be used for estimation of two different concentrations of Ag⁺ at two different wavelengths. The addition of Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Co²⁺ metal ions to tetrapod 5 causes fluorescence quenching, i.e., ‘ON-OFF’ phenomena at λ_max 395 nm for <10 μM (1 equiv) of these ions but addition of Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ to tetrapod 5 results in fluorescence enhancement with a gradual shift of λ_em from 395 to 432 and 418 nm, respectively. Similarly, dipod 3 behaves as an ‘ON-OFF-ON’ switch with Ag⁺, an ‘ON-OFF’ switch with Cu²⁺, and an ‘OFF-ON’ switch with Zn²⁺. The placement of quinolinoxymethyl groups at the 1,3,5-positions of benzene ring in tripod 7a-b leads to simultaneous fluorescence quenching at λ_max 380 nm and enhancement at λ_max 490 nm with both Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺. This behavior is in parallel with 8-methoxyquinoline 8. The rationalization of these results in terms of metal ion coordination and protonation of podands shows that 1,2 placement of quinoline units in tetrapod 5 and dipod 3 causes three different fluorescent responses, i.e., ‘ON-OFF-ON’, ‘ON-OFF’, and ‘OFF-ON’ due to metal ion coordination of different transition metal ions and 1, 3, and 5 placement of three quinolines in tripod 7, the protonation of quinolines is preferred over metal ion coordination. In general, the greater number of quinoline units coordinated per metal ion in 5 compared with the other podands points to organization of the four quinoline moieties around metal ions in the case of 5.     

1-Aminoanthracene-9,10-dione based chromogenic molecular sensors: effect of nature and number of nitrogen atoms on metal ion sensing behavior

To examine the consequences of nature and number of nitrogen atoms on metal ion sensing properties, four new molecular receptors based on 1-aminoanthracene-9,10-dione as chromogenic moiety and different types of nitrogen atoms viz. arylamine, alkylamine, and pyridyl nitrogen as appendages have been synthesized. These receptors in CH₃OH/H₂O (1:1) (v/v) at pH 7.0, on addition of heavy metal ions show selective and/or semi-selective interactions. These binding interactions are visible to naked eye due to remarkable color change and are associated with λ_max shift by 85-125 nm. Molecular receptor 2, with two sp² hybridized nitrogen atoms and one arylamine nitrogen, selectively binds with Cu²⁺ but 2-Cu²⁺ complex is stable only between pH 7.0 and 8.75. However, the conversion of imine nitrogen to alkylamine in molecular receptor 6, increases the binding ability toward Cu²⁺ along with significant binding affinities toward Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺. Receptor 6 shows the stability of its complexes in the order Cu²⁺>Ni²⁺>Co²⁺ in a broader pH range 6-12. Dipicolylamine based receptor 8, possessing two pyridyl nitrogen atoms, one tertiaryamine and one arylamine nitrogen atoms as ligating sites, also binds semiselectively in the order Cu²⁺>Co²⁺>Ni²⁺. Receptor 10, possessing anilide group in the place of arylamine in receptor 8, on addition of Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺ or Co²⁺ shows bathochromic shift of λ_max associated with color change from yellow to russet (brown) and on addition of Zn²⁺ shows hypsochromic shift of its λ_max associated with disappearance of yellow color. Additionally, all the four chemosensors show ratiometric response toward all these metal ions and thus increase the usability and the dynamic range of estimation.     

Spectroscopic,structure and DFT studies of copper(II) and palladium(II) complexes of pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde-2-pyridylhydrazone: A chromogenic agent for palladium(II)

A heterocyclic hydrazone ligand, pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde-2-pyridylhydrazone, HL, 1, was investigated as a new chromogenic agent for selective detection of Pd²⁺. The ligand HL, 1, undergoes 1:1 complexation with Pd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ to form complexes [Pd(L)Cl], 1a and [Cu(HL)Cl₂], 1b respectively. The complex 1a gives a characteristic absorption peak at 536 nm with distinct reddish-pink coloration. The change in color can easily be distinguished from other metal complexes by the naked eye. No obvious interference was observed in the presence of other metal ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Sn²⁺, Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺). The association constants, K_ass (UV–Vis), were found to be 5.52 ± 0.004 × 10⁴ for 1a and 4.94 ± 0.006 × 10⁴ for 1b at 298 K. On excitation at 295 nm, the ligand HL, 1 strongly emits at 372 nm due to an intraligand ¹(π–π^∗) transition. Upon complexation the emission peaks are blue shifted (λ_ex 295 nm, λ_em 358 nm for 1a and λ_ex 295 nm, λ_em 367 nm for 1b) along with a quenching (F/F₀ 0.32 for 1a and 0.88 for 1b) in the emission intensity. DFT and TDDFT calculations were highly consistent with the spectroscopic behavior of the ligand and complexes. The molecular structure of the complex 1b has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Selective turn-on fluorescence for Zn and Zn + Cd metal ions by single Schiff base chemosensor

Chemosensor based on Schiff base molecules (1, 2) were synthesized and demonstrated the selective fluoro/colorimetric sensing of multiple metal ions (Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺) in acetonitrile–aqueous solution. Both 1 and 2 showed a highly selective naked-eye detectable colorimetric change for Mn²⁺ ions at 10⁻⁷ M. Fluorescence sensing studies of 1 and 2 exhibited a strong fluorescence enhancement (36 fold) selectively upon addition of Zn²⁺ (10⁻⁷ M, λ_max = 488 nm). Fluorescence titration and single crystal X-ray analysis confirmed the formation of 1:1 molecular coordination complex between 1 and Zn²⁺. Interestingly, a rare phenomenon of strong second turn-on fluorescence (190 fold, λ_max = 466 nm) was observed by the addition of Cd²⁺ (10⁻⁷ M) into 1 + Zn²⁺ or Zn²⁺ (10⁻⁷ M) into 1 + Cd²⁺. Importantly both 1 and 2 exhibited different fluorescence λ_max with clearly distinguishable color for both Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺.     

Structural and magnetic properties of metal complexes with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate and 5-(4-bromophenyl)-2,4′-bipyridine

A series of complexes has been synthesized based on pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (L1) as the bridging ligand and 5-(4-bromophenyl)-2,4′-bipyridine (L2) as the pendant with different metal ions such as Ni^II, Co^II, and Cu^II, under hydrothermal conditions. In nickel and cobalt complexes [M(L1)(L2)₂ · H₂O]_n (M = Ni²⁺ or Co²⁺), the metal ions are bridged by L1 to form 1D coordination zigzag polymeric chains with L2 pendants possessing hexa-coordinated distorted octahedral geometries. While the copper ions are penta-coordinated by L1 and L2 with distorted square pyramidal geometries forming the tetranuclear cluster with the formula [Cu₄(L1)₄(L2)₄] · 2H₂O. It has been found that both the structure and magnetic property of these complexes are metal ions dependent. Intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions were observed in the nickel and cobalt 1D coordination polymers, while ferromagnetic coupling was found in the tetranuclear copper cluster. Density functional theory calculations suggested that the O–C–O bridges of L1 in a basal–apical mode are responsible for intracluster intermetallic ferromagnetic exchange for the tetranuclear copper cluster.     

Single stranded helical supramolecular architecture with a left handed helical water chain in ternary copper(II) tryptophan/diamine complexes

The ternary copper(II) complexes [Cu(l-trp)(bpy)](ClO₄) (1) and [Cu(l-trp)(phen)] (ClO₄) · 3H₂O (2) (where l-trp = l-tryptophan, bpy = bipridyl, phen = phenanthroline) have been synthesized. The single crystal X-ray structures for these complexes revealed that the monocationic Cu^II-units are interlinked through Cu–OCO–Cu connectivity and exist as helical coordination polymers. The two different helical strands composed with Cu1 and Cu2 independently, possess a similar pitch distance of 7.713 Å in complex 1. For complex 2, existing in the hydrated form, the Cu(II) polymeric strand and the hydrated water molecules have gained a supramolecular helical architecture with a similar pitch distance of 8.133 Å. The two helical strands in complex 1 are associated with right handed (PP) supramolecular chirality, while the helical water chain and the Cu^II-strand in 2 are self assembled into left handed (MM) helicity in the solid state. The solid state CD recorded for 1 and the dehydrated form of 2 exhibit a positive optical sign at their respective d–d band [λ_max = 667 nm, 1; λ_max = 630 nm, 2], the solution state CD for both these complexes are found to be inverted into a negative optical sign, which could be attributed to inversion of their associated supramolecular helicity. The TGA curve illustrates two distinct weight losses at 60 °C and 87 °C, equivalent to one and two water molecules, respectively. The PXRD pattern for the hydrated and dehydrated forms of 2 indicated a change, on comparison with the simulated diffractograph. The fluorescence properties of both these complexes, possessing tryptophan and bipy/phen, were investigated.     

Exploiting the deprotonation mechanism for the design of ratiometric and colorimetric Zn fluorescent chemosensor with a large red-shift in emission

The design, synthesis, and photophysical evaluation of a new naphthalimide-based fluorescent chemosensor, N-butyl-4-[di-(2-picolyl)amino]-5-(2-picolyl)amino-1,8-naphthalimide (1), were described for the detection of Zn²⁺ in aqueous acetonitrile solution at pH 7.0. Probe 1 showed absorption at 451 nm and a strong fluorescence emission at 537 nm (Φ_F=0.33). The capture of Zn²⁺ by the receptor resulted in the deprotonation of the secondary amine conjugated to 1,8-naphthalimide so that the electron-donating ability of the N atom would be greatly enhanced; thus probe 1 showed a 56 nm red-shift in absorption (507 nm) and fluorescence spectra (593 nm, Φ_F=0.14), respectively, from which one could sense Zn²⁺ ratiometrically and colorimetrically. The deprotonated complex, [(1-H)/Zn]⁺, was calculated at m/z 619.1800 and measured at m/z 618.9890. In contrast to these results, the emission of 1 was thoroughly quenched by Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺. The addition of other metal ions such as Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, Al³⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, Ag⁺, and Pb²⁺ produced a nominal change in the optical properties of 1 due to their low affinity to probe 1. This means that probe 1 has a very high fluorescent imaging selectivity to Zn²⁺ among metal ions.     

Synthesis and crystal structure characterization of iron(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes with 1,3-bis(2-pyridylmethylthio)propane

Three new mononuclear complexes of nitrogen–sulfur donor sets, formulated as [Fe^II(L)Cl₂] (1), [Co^II(L)Cl₂] (2) and [Ni^II(L)Cl₂] (3) where L = 1,3-bis(2-pyridylmethylthio)propane, were synthesized and isolated in their pure form. All the complexes were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The solid state structures of complexes 1 and 3 have been established by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The structural analysis evidences isomorphous crystals with the metal ion in a distorted octahedral geometry that comprises NSSN ligand donors with trans located pyridine rings and chlorides in cis positions. In dimethylformamide solution, the complexes were found to exhibit Fe^II/Fe^III, Co^II/Co^III and Ni^II/Ni^III quasi-reversible redox couples in cyclic voltammograms with E_1/2 values (versus Ag/AgCl at 298 K) of +0.295, +0.795 and +0.745 V for 1, 2 and 3, respectively.     

A unique ‘ON-OFF-ON’ switch with two perturbations at two different concentrations of Ag

The dipod 1,2-bis(8-quinolinoxymethyl)benzene 3 and tetrapod 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(8-quinolinoxymethyl)benzene 4 show two perturbations in fluorescence with Ag⁺, (i) fluorescence quenching with <1.0 equiv of AgNO₃ at λ_max 395 nm and (ii) fluorescence enhancement at λ_max 500 nm with >3 equiv of AgNO₃. This ‘ON-OFF-ON’ switching of 3 and 4 in comparison with simultaneous fluorescence quenching and enhancement in the case of 8-methoxyquinoline 1 and the tripod 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(8-quinolinoxymethyl)benzene 2 point to the unique role of molecular architectures arising due to the number and spatial positions of quinoline units in the fluorescence behaviour of an 8-alkoxyquinoline moiety towards Ag⁺.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of novel push-pull-type solvatochromic 7-deaza-2′-deoxypurine nucleosides

We have synthesized two novel push-pull-type fluorescent 7-deazapurine nucleosides, ^CNZA and ^CNZG, and investigated their photophysical properties. In particular, ^CNZA was found to exhibit a remarkable solvatofluorochromicity (Δλ_fl.max = 60 nm). We incorporated ^CNZA into oligonucleotides and found that ^CNZA can form a stable base pair with both thymine and cytosine. Such environmentally sensitive fluorescent nucleosides have a potential as a fluorescence sensor for structural studies of nucleic acids.     

A multi-channel sensor based on 8-hydroxyquinoline ferrocenoate for probing Hg(II) ion

A new sensing molecule 8-hydroxyquinoline ferrocenoate (Fc-Q) which combines ferrocene and 8-hydroxyquinoline moieties was synthesized and applied as a multi-channel sensor for the detection of Hg²⁺ ion. Fc-Q can coordinate with Hg²⁺ to give colorimetric, fluorescent and electrochemical responses. Upon complexation with Hg²⁺ ion, the characteristic absorption peak is red-shifted (Δλ = 45 nm), the fluorescent intensity is quenched at 303 nm, and the oxidation peak is cathodic shifted (ΔE_1/2 = −149 mV). Quantitatively analyzed Hg²⁺ ions at the range of ppb level could be achieved by electrochemical response. For the practical application of sensing Hg²⁺ in real world water, Fc-Q modified screen-printed carbon electrodes were obtained for facile, sensitive, and on-site analysis of Hg²⁺.     

Direct observation and kinetic characterization of o-quinodimethane and its radical cation variant generated in a photoinduced electron-transfer reaction of 1,2-bis(α-styryl)benzene

Nanosecond time-resolved absorption spectroscopy on the laser flash photolysis of 1,2-bis(α-styryl)benzene (1) under N-methylquinolinium tetrafluoroborate-toluene-sensitized conditions in acetonitrile confirmed that an o-quinodimethane radical cation (2⁺, λ_max = 569 nm) decayed and the corresponding neutral prototype (2, λ_max = 444 nm) rose with rate constants of 5.6 and 5.9 × 10⁵ s⁻¹, respectively, showing the first agreement in kinetics between a reactive radical cation intermediate intervening in chemical reaction and the corresponding neutral species formed by back electron transfer.     

Structural characterization of five-coordinate copper(II), nickel(II), and cobalt(II) thiocyanato complexes derived from bis(2-(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)ethyl)amine

The reaction of M(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O with NH₄NCS in presence of the organic sterically hindered bis(2-(di-3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)ethyl)amine (bedmpza) afforded the five-coordinate mononuclear dithiocyanato-M(II) complexes [M(bedmpza)(NCS)₂]·xMeOH (1: M = Cu²⁺, x = 0; 2: M = Ni²⁺, x = 0; 3: M = Co²⁺, x = 0.84). The compounds which proved to be non-electrolytes were characterized by IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy and their molecular structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. In these complexes, the five-coordinate geometry was achieved by the three N-donors of the ligand bedmpza and two N atoms of the terminal thiocyanato ligands. The Cu(II) complex exists in two polymorphs 1-I and 1-II: an intermediate five-coordinate geometry with the two thiocyanato ligands are arranged as cisoid in 1-I and distorted square pyramidal geometry with the thiocyanato ligands are in transoid orientation in 1-II. Although the later geometry was also observed in the nickel complex 2, distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry was found in 3. Each complex forms hydrogen bonds of type N-H?S from the secondary amine N(3) donor atoms to the adjacent terminal S(1) acceptor atoms of the thiocyanate group. The thermal behavior of the two polymorphs 1-I and 1-II were similar and no significant differences were observed between the two complexes.     

Synthesis,crystal structures and magnetic properties of five new metal(II) compounds constructed with isomers of aminobenzonitrile and dicyanamide ligands

Five new compounds formulated as [Ni^II(dca)₂(para-ABN)₂(H₂O)₂] (1), [Cu^II(dca)₂(para-ABN)₂(H₂O)₂] (2), [Cu^II(dca)₂(para-ABN)₂]_n, (3), [Cu^II(dca)₂(ortho-ABN)₂]_n, (4) and [Cd^II(dca)₂(meta-ABN)₂]_n (5), where dca = dicyanamide and ABN = aminobenzonitrile, have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies and low temperature (300–2 K) magnetic measurements. The structural analyses revealed that 1 and 2 are isomorphous where dca and para-ABN both act as monodentate ligands. 3 consists of infinite double stranded chains of Cu(II) ions connected through the para-ABN bridges whereas 4 and 5 consist of infinite double stranded chains of Cu(II) and Cd(II) respectively, connected through μ_1,5-dca bridges. The compounds extend their geometries to three-dimensional for 1–3 and 5 and two-dimensional for 4 through hydrogen bonding interactions. All the metal ions Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ are located on inversion centres and have distorted octahedral coordination geometries. The variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the global feature of the χ_MT versus T curves for 3 and 4 is characteristic of very weak antiferromagnetic interactions and between 300 and 2 K the best fit parameters were determined as J = −2.35 and −5.1 cm⁻¹, respectively.     

Syntheses, structures, and properties of metal complexes involving π-conjugated tetrathiafulvalene-pyridine ligand

Four metal complexes based on the phenyl-bridged pyridine ligand with tetrathiafulvalene unit (TTF-Ph-Py, L), Ni^II(acac)₂(L)₂ (1, acac = acetylacetonate), M(hfac)₂(L)₂ (M = Ni^II, 2; M = Cu^II, 3; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonato) and [Co^II(Tp^Ph2)(OAc)(L)]·H₂O (4, Tp^Ph2 = hydridotri(3,5-diphenylpyrazol-1-yl) borate), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The absorption spectra and redox behaviors of these new compounds have been studied. Optimized conformation and molecular orbital diagram of L has been calculated with density functional theory (DFT).     

Synthesis, characterization and electrochemical properties of two new calix[4]arene derivatives bearing two ferrocene imine or ferrocene amine units at the upper rim

A novel calix[4]arene derivative with two ferrocenyl Schiff-base groups at the upper rim 3 has been synthesized from 5,17-diformyl-25,27-dipropoxy-26,28-dihydroxy calix[4]arene and 4-ferrocenylaniline via condensation reaction. Reduction of 3 with sodium borohydride led to calix[4]arene derivative 4 with two amino ferrocenyl groups at the upper rim. The ferrocenyl Schiff-base calix[4]arene and its corresponding reduced amine have been purified and characterized by elemental analysis,¹H NMR, FTIR, Mass and UV-vis spectral data. Electrochemical properties of compounds 3 and 4 have been investigated. Cyclic voltammograms of 3 and 4 show reversible redox couples of ferrocene/ferrocinium at E_1/2=0.401 V and 0.346 V, respectively. Electrochemical studies show these redox active compounds electrochemically recognize trivalent lanthanides La³⁺ and Ce³⁺ and divalent Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺cations. With ferrocenyl Schiff-base calix[4]arene 3 an anodic shift as large as 130 mV is observed on addition of one equivalent of Ce³⁺ ion. Also extraction properties of compound 4 towards some metal cations have been described. It has been observed that compound 4 has a good selectivity for metal cations Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ against Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺.     

Bifunctional fluorescent thiacalix[4]arene based chemosensor for Cu and F ions

A new thiacalix[4]arene based fluorescent sensor bearing two dansyl groups has been synthesized in cone conformation. In CH₃CN:CH₂Cl₂ (1:1), the presence of Cu (II) induces the formation of a 1:1 metal:ligand complex, which exhibits increasing emission at 433 nm at the expense of the fluorescent emission of 1 centered at 504 nm. The detection limit of the sensor for Cu²⁺ is 2×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. For anion sensing, 1 shows a high selectivity for fluoride ions over other anions tested.     

Development of an oxidative dehydrogenation-based fluorescent probe for Cu and its biological imaging in living cells

Based on a boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivative containing an N, O and S tridentate ligand, a Cu²⁺ fluorescent probe BTCu was developed. The detection mechanism was verified as Cu²⁺-promoted oxidative dehydrogenation of an amine moiety, leading to a formation of a fluorescent Cu⁺-Schiff base complex. Free BTCu exhibited a maximum absorption wavelength at 496 nm, and a very weak maximum emission at 511 nm. Upon addition of various metals ions, it showed large fluorescence enhancement toward Cu²⁺ (417-fold in MeCN and 103-fold in MeCN/HEPES solution, respectively) with high selectivity. The detection limits are as low as 1.74 × 10⁻⁸ M and 4.96 × 10⁻⁸ M in the two different solutions, respectively. And BTCu could work in a wide pH range with an extraordinary low pK_a of 1.21 ± 0.06. Using fluorescence microscopy, the probe was shown to be capable of penetrating into living cells and imaging intracellular Cu²⁺ changes.     

Preparation, crystal structures, EPR and reflectance spectra of two new charge-transfer salts, [CpFeCpCH2N(CH3)3]4[XMo12O40] · nCH3CN (n = 0 for X = P or n = 1 for X = Ge)

Two new charge-transfer salts, [CpFeCpCH₂N(CH₃)₃]₄[PMo₁₂O₄₀] · CH₃CN (1) and [CpFeCpCH₂N(CH₃)₃]₄[GeMo₁₂O₄₀] (2), were synthesized by the traditional solution synthetic method and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Salt 1 belongs to the triclinic space group P1, and salt 2 belongs to the triclinic space group . There exist the complex interactions of the cationic ferrocenyl donor and Keggin polyanion in the solid state. The solid state UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra indicate the presence of a charge-transfer band climbing from 450 nm to well beyond 900 nm for 1, a charge-transfer band from 460 to 850 nm with λ_max = 630 nm for 2.The EPR spectra of salts 1 and 2 at 77 K show a signal at g = 2.0048 and 1.9501, respectively, ascribed to the delocalization of one electron in reduced Keggin ion in salt 1 and the Mo^VI in [GeMo₁₂O₄₀]⁴⁻ is partly reduced to Mo^V owing to the charge-transfer transitions taking place between the ferrocenyl donors and the POM acceptors. The two compounds were also characterized by IR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.     

Synthesis and luminescent properties of Zn complex based on 8-hydroxyquinoline group containing 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) benzene unit with unique crystal structure

The use of a novel 2-substituted-8-hydroxyquinoline ligand (E)-2-{2-[3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethenyl}-8-hydroxyquinoline(4, BFHQ) characterized by EIMS, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and FTIR spectroscopy enabled the isolation of a trimeric Zn(II) complex with the formula Zn₃(BFHQ)₆ (5, Scheme 1). X-ray structural analysis shows that 5 exhibits a trinuclear core, which is bridged by four 8-hydroxyquinoline rings. The trinuclear core is surrounded by three pairs of BFHQ ligands with offset π-π stacking, showing propeller-like molecular structure. The aggregation behavior of Zn(AcO)₂ and the ligand 4 in solution was investigated by UV-vis. The luminescence properties of compound 5 were investigated by UV-vis and fluorescence spectra at room temperature. The experimental results show that the complex 5 emits yellow luminescence at 553 nm (λ_{em, max}) in DMSO solution and at 610 nm (λ_em, max) in solid state. The thermogravimetric analysis was carried out to examine the thermal stability.