Polymorphs with varying platinum(II)-thallium(I) interactions

TlI[(C4H9N4)PtII(CN)2] forms a red, crystalline polymorph in which the ions are arranged to form an extended ...Pt...Tl...Pt...Tl... chain (Pt...Tl distance, 3.0978(2) A; Pt-Tl-Pt and Tl-Pt-Tl angles, (171.37(2) degrees ) and a yellow polymorph in which dimers are connected by pairs of Pt...Tl interactions with a Pt...Tl distance of 3.0256(5) A.     

Synthesis of di-, tri- and tetranuclear platinum(II) and copper(I) acetylide complexes

Heterobimetallic {cis-[Pt](μ-σ,π-CCPh)₂}[Cu(NCMe)]BF₄ (3a: [Pt] = (bipy)Pt, bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine; 3b: [Pt] = (bipy′)Pt, bipy′ = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) is accessible by the reaction of cis-[Pt](CCPh)₂ (1a: [Pt] = (bipy)Pt, 1b: [Pt] = (bipy′)Pt]) with [Cu(NCMe)₄]BF₄ (2). Substitution of NCMe by PPh₃ (4) can be realized by the reaction of 3a with 4, whereby [{cis-[Pt](μ-σ,π-CCPh)₂}Cu(PPh₃)]BF₄ (5) is formed. On prolonged stirring of 3 and 5, respectively, NCMe and PPh₃ are eliminated and tetrametallic {[{cis-[Pt](η²-CCPh)₂}Cu]₂}(BF₄)₂ (6) is produced. Addition of an excess of NCMe to 6 gives heterobimetallic 3a.When instead of NCMe or PPh₃ chelating molecules such as bipy (7) are reacted with 3a then the heterobimetallic π-tweezer molecule [{cis-[Pt](μ-σ,π-CCPh)₂}Cu(bipy)]BF₄ (8) is formed. Treatment of 8 with another equivalent of 7 produced [Cu(bipy₂)]BF₄ (9) along with [Pt](CCPh)₂. However, when 3b is reacted with 1b in a 1:1 molar ratio then 10 and 11 of general composition [{[Pt](CCPh)₂}₂Cu]BF₄ are formed. These species are isomers and only differ in the binding of the PhCC units to copper(I). A possible mechanism for the formation of 10 and 11 is presented.The solid state structures of 6, 10 and 11 are reported. In 11 the [{cis-[Pt](μ-σ,π-CCPh)₂}₂Cu]⁺ building block is set-up by two nearly orthogonal positioned bis(alkynyl) platinum units which are connected by a Cu(I) ion, whereby the four carbon-carbon triple bonds are unsymmetrical coordinated to Cu(I). In trimetallic 10 two cis-[Pt](CCPh)₂ units are bridged by a copper(I) center, however, only one of the two PhCC ligands of individual cis-[Pt](CCPh)₂ fragments is η²-coordinated to Cu(I) giving rise to the formation of a [(η²-CCPh)₂Cu]⁺ moiety with a linear alkyne-copper-alkyne arrangement (alkyne = midpoint of the CC triple bond). In 6 two almost parallel oriented [Pt](CCPh)₂ planes are linked by two copper(I) ions, whereby two individual PhCC units, one associated with each Pt building block, are symmetrically π-coordinated to Cu.     

Luminescent one- and two-dimensional extended structures and a loosely associated dimer based on platinum(II)-thallium(I) backbones

Neutralization reactions between (NBu4)2[ trans-Pt(C 6F5)2(CN)2] 1 and (NBu4)2[cis-Pt(C6F5)2(CN)2] 2 with TlPF 6 have been carried out, and the resulting structures of [trans,trans,trans-Tl2{Pt(C6F5)2(CN)2}.(CH3COCH3) ] n [4.(CH3COCH3)2] n and {Tl[Tl{cis-Pt(C6F5)2(CN)2}].(H2O)} n [5.(H2O)] n have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Remarkably, the change from trans to cis geometry on the platinum substrate causes a significant decrease in the Pt(II)...Tl(I) metallophilic interaction. Thus, the platinum center in the trans fragment easily connects with two Tl(I) ions forming a distorted pseudo-octahedron PtTl2, which generates a final two-dimensional layered structure by secondary additional intermolecular Tl(I)...N(CN) interactions. However, the [cis-Pt(C6F5)2(CN)2] (2-) fragment interacts strongly with just one Tl center leading to an extended helical [-Pt-Tl-Pt-Tl-] n(n-) chain. In this case, the second thallium center neutralizes the anionic chain mainly through Tl...N(CN) ( intra) and Tl...F(C 6F 5) (intra and inter)actions. The reaction of TlPF 6 with the monoanionic fragment (NBu4)[cis-Pt(C6F5)2(CN)(PPh2C[triple bond]CPh)] 3 yields the discrete associated dimer [Tl{cis-Pt(C6F5)2(CN)(PPh2C[triple bond]CPh)}] 2 [ 6] 2. Dimer [ 6] 2 could be described as two square pyramids with the thallium atoms in the apical positions, connected through Tl...N(cyano) interactions. The final heteropolynuclear Pt-Tl complexes, except 4 at room temperature, show bright emission in the solid state when irradiated with UV-vis radiation, in contrast to the precursors 1 and 3, which are not luminescent. This difference indicates that the emissions in 4- 6 are presumably related to the interaction between the metal centers. The Pt-Tl bonding interactions and, consequently, the emissive properties are lost in solution at room temperature, as shown by the conductivity and NMR measurements. However, variable-concentration luminescence measurements in glassy acetonitrile solutions indicate the formation of different aggregates with different degrees of Pt...Tl interactions for 4 and 5 and a dimeric structure similar to that observed in solid state for 6.     

Stabilization of copper(II) thiosulfonate coordination complexes through cooperative hydrogen bonding interactions

A series of copper(II) thiosulfonate complexes have been prepared via the reaction of [Cu(Me 3tren)(OH 2)](ClO 4) 2 (Me 3tren = tris(2-methylaminoethyl)amine) with three thiosulfonate ligands (RSO 2S (-), where R = Me, Ph, and MePh) and characterized by microanalysis, FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. In these complexes, the distorted trigonal bipyramidal copper(II) coordination sphere is occupied by four amine nitrogen atoms from the tripodal tetramine ligand and an apically bound sulfur atom from the thiosulfonate ligand. By using the tripodal tetramine ligand the oxidation of the thiosulfonate has been restricted, allowing the isolation of the complexes. The Cu-S distances were found to be similar to those in related thiosulfate complexes, indicating coordinative interactions of similar strength. Two types of intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions were evident which enhance the binding of the thiosulfonate to the copper(II) center. These interactions, which involve two amine N-H groups and either one or two thiosulfonate oxygens, were found to be weaker than in the corresponding thiosulfate complexes. The complex formation constants for the thiosulfonate complexes (log K f = 0.3-0.7) were found to be two orders of magnitude lower than compared to the thiosulfate analogues. This correlates well with a lower strength of intramolecular hydrogen bonding.     

Luminescent amidate-bridged one-dimensional platinum(II)-thallium(I) coordination polymers assembled via metallophilic attraction

The neutral square-planar complexes [Pt(RNH2)2(NHCO(t)Bu)2] (R = H, 1; Et, 2) and [Pt(DACH)(NHCO(t)Bu)2] (DACH = 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, 3) act as metalloligands and make bonds to closed-shell Tl(I) ions to afford one- and two-dimensional platinum-thallium oligomers or polymers based on heterobimetallic backbones. A series of heteronuclear platinum(II)-thallium(I) complexes have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The structures of the Pt-Tl compounds resulted from [Pt(RNH2)2(NHCO(t)Bu)2] and TlX [X = NO3(-), ClO4(-), PF6(-), and Cp2Fe(CO2)2(2-)] are dependent on both counteranions and the amine substituents. The compounds [Pt(NH3)2(NHCO(t)Bu)2Tl]X (X = NO3(-), 8; ClO4(-), 9) adopt one-dimensional zigzag chain structures consisting of repeatedly stacked [Pt(NH3)2(NHCO(t)Bu)2Tl]+ units, whereas [{Pt(NH3)2(NHCO(t)Bu)2}2Tl2]X2 (X = PF6(-), 10) consists of a helical chain. Compound 3 reacts with Tl+ to give [{Pt(DACH)(NHCO(t)Bu)2}2Tl](NO3) x [Pt(DACH)(NHCO(t)Bu)2] x 3 H2O (14) and one-dimensional polymeric [{Pt(DACH)(NHCO(t)Bu)2}2Tl2]X2 (X = ClO4(-), 15; PF6(-), 16). Reactions of [Pt(DACH)(NHCOCH3)2] with Tl+ ions afford one-dimensional coordination polymers [{Pt(DACH)(NHCOCH3)2}2Tl2]X2 (X = NO3(-), 17; ClO4(-), 18; PF6(-), 19). The polymeric [{Pt(DACH)(NHCOR')2}2Tl2]2+ (R = CH3, (t)Bu) complexes adopt helical structures, which are generated around the crystallographic 2(1) screw axis. The distance between the coils corresponds to the unit cell length, which ranges from 22.58 to 22.68 A. The platinum-thallium bond distances fall in a narrow range around 3.0 A. The complexes derived from [Pt(NH3)2(NHCO(t)Bu)2] are luminescent at 77 K. The trinuclear complexes [{Pt(RNH2)(NHCO(t)Bu)2}2Tl]+ do not emit at room temperature but are emissive at 77 K, whereas the polymeric platinum-thallium complexes containing 1,2-diaminocyclohexane are intensively luminescent at both room temperature and 77 K. The color variations are interesting; 15 exhibits intense yellow-green, 16 exhibits green, and 17-19 exhibit blue luminescence. The presence of bonding between platinum and thallium is supported by the short metal-metal separations and the strong low-energy luminescence of these compounds in their solid states.     

Synthesis and characterization of supramolecular complexes of a tetranuclear metallocycle with platinum(II) bis-ethynylphenylethynylpyridine organometallic complexes

A novel Pt(II) organometallic complex with 4-(4-ethynyl-phenylethynyl)-pyridine (DEBPy-H), namely [Pt(dppp)(DEBPy)₂] (dppp = 1,3-bis-(diphenylphosphino)-propane), has been prepared by two synthetic routes. The DEBPy-H ligand was prepared by a shorter synthetic pathway and in higher yield than the method of previous reports. New Pt(II) organometallic complexes with DEBPy-H and four bidentate ligands [Pt(L–L)(DEBPy)₂] (L–L = 1,2-bis-(diphenylphosphino)-benzene, bis-(dicyclohexyl)-ethane, 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine, or 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) have also been prepared. These five Pt(II) complexes have two pyridyl units as an available coordination site that can operate as a metalloligand in nanoscale tectonics. A supramolecular complex of a tetranuclear metallocycle, [Pt(dppp)(DEBPy)₂]₂[Pt(dppp)]₂(OTf)₄, was synthesized from [Pt(dppp)(DEBPy)₂] and [Pt(dppp)(OTf)₂] as a corner connection through coordination-driven self-assembly. This supramolecular Pt(II) complex exists as a tetranuclear structure of the square type according to the interpretation of the ESI-mass and NMR spectra in solution. Five Pt(II) organometallics demonstrated the formation of similar tetranuclear metallocycles with [Pt(dppp)(OTf)₂], as indicated by their ESI-mass and UV–vis spectra in solution.     

Organically directed iron sulfate chains: structural diversity based on hydrogen bonding interactions

Six organically directed 1-D iron sulfates hydrated and hydrolyzed to different extents have been prepared hydrothermally. [C2H10N2]1.5[Fe(SO4)(3)].2H2O (I), [C2H10N2][Fe(SO4)2(OH)].H2O (II), [C6H18N2]0.5[Fe(SO4)2(H2O)2] (III), and [C6H18N2]0.5[Fe2(SO4)(H2O)4(OH)].H2O (V) possess the linear topological structures observed in ferrinatrite, sideronatrite, kr?hnkite, and copiapite minerals, respectively. [C4H12N2][Fe2(SO4)3(OH)2(H2O)2].H2O (IV) shows a novel linear structure that can be regarded as a hybrid of the tancoite and butlerite types. [C6N4H22]0.5[Fe(SO4)2(OH)].2H2O (VI) adopts a cis configuration, compared with II, to give a rare inorganic helical iron sulfate chain which is a new member of the organically directed transitional metal sulfates. The results reveal that the starting molar proportion of the reactants and the type of amines are critical for the structural motif. There is an obvious relationship between the constitution of chains and the type of amino groups, involving the amount of N-H...O hydrogen bonds.     

Anion-assisted trans-cis isomerization of palladium(II) phosphine complexes containing acetanilide functionalities through hydrogen bonding interactions

The anion-assisted shift of trans-cis isomerization equilibrium of a palladium(II) complex containing acetanilide functionalities brought about by allosteric hydrogen bonding interactions has been established by UV/Vis, 1H NMR, 31P NMR and ESI-MS studies.     

Bi- and tetranuclear polyfluorophenyl-bridged gold(I) complexes

The reaction of RAuL (R = 2,4,6-C₆F₃H₂, 3,6-C₆F₂H₃, 4-C₆FH₄ or 3-CF₃C₆H₄; L = PPh₃ or AsPh₃) or RAudpeAuR with inorganic acids HA (A = ClO₄, BF₄ or PF₆) leads to binuclear complexes of the types [R(AuL)₂]A or [R(Au₂dpe)]BF₄. Similarly, reaction of NBu₄[Au(2,4,6-C₆F₃H₂)₂] with HPF₆ yields the tetranuclear complex Au₄(2,4,6-C₆F₃H₂)₄. Addition of RAuL to solutions obtained by treating ClAuL with AgA also gives compounds of the type [R(AuL)₂]A.     

New biimidazole and bibenzimidazole derivatives: mono and binuclear palladium(II) or platinum(II) complexes and heterobinuclear palladium(II)-rhodium(I) or platinum(II)-rhodium(I) complexes

Novel neutral biimidazolate or bibenzimidazolate palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of the type M(NN)₂(dpe) [M = Pd, Pt; (NN)₂^2? = BiIm^2?, BiBzIm^2?. dpe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino) ethane] have been obtained by reacting MCl₂(dpe) with TI₂(NN)₂. Complexes M(NN)₂(dpe) which are Lewis bases react with HClO₄ or [M(dpe)(Me₂CO)₂](ClO₄)₂ to yield, respectively, mononuclear cationic complexes of general formula [M{H₂(NN)₂](dpe) (M = Pd, Pt; H₂(NN)₂ = H₂BiIm, H₂BiBzIm) and homobinuclear palladium(II) or platinum(II) cationic complexes of the type [M₂{μ - (NN)₂}(dpe)₂](ClO₄)₂. Reactions of M(BiBzIm)(dpe) with [Rh(COD) (Me₂CO)_X](ClO₄) render similar heterobinuclear palladium(II)-rhodium(I) and platinum(II)-rhodium(I) cationic complexes, of general formula [(dpe)M(μ-BiBzIm)Rh(COD)](ClO₄) (M = Pd, Pt; COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene). Di- and mono-carbonyl derivatives [(dpe)M(μ-BiBzIm)Rh(CO)L](ClO₄) (M = Pd, Pt; L = CO, PPh₃) have also been prepared. The structures of the resulting complexes have been elucidated by conductance studies and IR spectroscopy.     

Self-healing biodegradable poly(urea-urethane) elastomers based on hydrogen bonding interactions

 Self-healing poly(urea-urethane)s (PUUs) showing a tolerance to mechanical damage are particularly desirable for high-performance elastomeric biomaterials. In this study a kind of biodegradable PUUs was synthesized from poly(ε-caprolactone) diol with L-lysine ethyl ester diisocyanate (LDI) extended with L-lysine ethyl ester dihydrochloride (LEED) in DMF and characterized by using ¹H-NMR, FTIR, DSC, XRD, SEM and tensile tests. Interestingly, they exhibited a self-healing characteristic upon exposure to 37℃ for as short as 30 min with the tensile strength keeping at 4.23 MPa and the elongation at break reaching to 627%. It is revealed that increasing the hard segment content in PUUs benefits the self-healing performance, and on the opposite increasing the soft segment content contributes to the biodegradability.     

Substituent control of hydrogen bonding in palladium(II)-pyrazole complexes

Inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding of an N-H group in pyrazole complexes was studied using ligands with two different groups at pyrazole C-3 and C-5. At C-5, groups such as methyl, i-propyl, phenyl, or tert-butyl were present. At C-3, side chains L-CH(2)- and L-CH(2)CH(2)- (L = thioether or phosphine) ensured formation of chelates to a cis-dichloropalladium(II) fragment through side-chain atom L and the pyrazole nitrogen closest to the side chain. The significance of the ligands is that by placing a ligating side chain on a ring carbon (C-3), rather than on a ring nitrogen, the ring nitrogen not bound to the metal and its attached proton are available for hydrogen bonding. As desired, seven chelate complexes examined by X-ray diffraction all showed intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the pyrazole N-H and a chloride ligand in the cis position. In addition, however, intermolecular hydrogen bonding could be controlled by the substituent at C-5: complexes with either a methyl at C-5 or no substituent there showed significant intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions, which were completely avoided by placing a tert-butyl group at C-5. The acidity of two complexes in acetonitrile solutions was estimated to be closer to that of pyridinium ion than those of imidazolium or triethylammonium ions.     

Gold(I) and platinum(II) complexes with a new diphosphine ligand based on the cyclotriphosphazene platform

A new diphosphine ligand assembled on the cyclotriphosphazene platform forms linear chelate and dimetallic bridged complexes with Au(I) and a cis-chelate complex with Pt(II).     

Phosphino-aminothiazoline platinum(II) and platinum(II)/gold(I) complexes: structural, chemical and vapoluminescent properties

Phosphino-amino-thiazolines and -thiazoles can exist in solution in two tautomeric forms, in which the N-H proton involves the endo-cyclic or exo-cyclic nitrogen atom. The two tautomers show different reactivities toward alcoholysis; the imino form degrades more rapidly. Their bischelated platinum complexes were studied in the solid state by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Thus, the unique stereoelectronic features of the [Pt(PN(th))] (PN(th)=diphenylposphino-aminothiazoline) moiety were revealed. The complex cis-[Pt(PN(th))(2)] reacts with gold(I) salts to yield dimetallic compounds, the molecular structures of which have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Solid cis-[Pt(PN(th))(2)] shows vapoluminescent properties if exposed to alcohol vapors. A combined photophysical and crystallographic investigation has been carried out to clarify the unprecedented rigidochromic role of the alcohol in this phenomenon.     

Two unprecedented 1D coordination polymer chains based on tetranuclear copper(II) building blocks

The reaction of copper(II) sulfate with pyridine in DMF or methanol yield two unprecedented Cu(II) coordination polymers {[Cu₄(μ₄-O)(py)₄(SO₄)₄][μ-Cu(py)(DMF)₂]}_n(1) and {[Cu₄(μ₄-O)(py)₄(SO₄)₄][μ-Cu(py)₄]}_n(2), respectively. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicated that compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group p2(1)/n, a=14.542(5) Å, b=16.359(5) Å, c=18.951(5) Å, β=92.047(5)°, V=4505(2) Å³, Z=4 while 2 is monoclinic C2/c, a=23.078(5) Å, b=10.214(5) Å, c=23.142(5) Å, β=115.471(5)°, V=4925(3) Å³, Z=4. Both of the two compounds consist of tetrahedral tetranuclear [Cu₄(μ₄-O)(py)₄(SO₄)₄] clusters that are bridged by pentacoordinated Cu atom for 1 or hexacoordinated Cu atoms for 2 through the sulfate oxygen to form the infinite one-dimensional polymer chains.     

Self-assembly and interconversion of tetranuclear copper(II) complexes

The ligand 1,2-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)-1,2-ethanediol (H2bzimed, 1) and its N-methylated analogue (H2mbzimed, 2) form a variety of polynuclear complexes with copper(II), all of which contain a planar Cu2O2 lozenge as a central element and in which the bridging oxygen belongs to an alkoxo group of the ligand. Syntheses are reported for dinuclear [Cu2(Hmbzimed)2](ClO4)2 x 1.5H2O, Cu(2)2(2), and the tetranuclear species [Cu4(Hbzimed)4(ClO4)2](NO3)2 x 4H2O, Cu(4)1(4), [Cu4(Hmbzimed)2(mbzimed)Cl2](ClO4)2 x 2H2O x C2H5OH, Cu(4)2(3), and rac-[Cu4(H2bzimed)4(bzimed)(ClO4)2](ClO4)4 x 1.5H2O x 3.5C2H5OH, Cu(4)1(5). Crystal structures are reported for the tetranuclear species. Cu(4)1(4) shows a cubane structure, Cu(4)2(3) a stepped cubane structure, and rac-Cu(4)1(5) a novel structure in which one doubly deprotonated ligand lies between the two Cu2O2 units. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that all complexes show antiferromagnetic coupling in the solid state. Studies in solution (ESI-MS, CD, NMR) show that Cu(2)2(2) and Cu(4)2(3) persist in solution but that Cu(4)1(4) dissociates partially and rac-Cu(4)1(5) completely. The six coordination modes of the ligands are discussed together with the effect of the N-methylation on the ligand conformation.     

Synthesis and characterisation of PC(sp3)P phosphine and phosphinite platinum(II) complexes. Cyclometallation and simple coordination

New and improved preparative routes to the previously known PCP ligands cis-1,3-bis(di-isopropylphosphinito)cyclohexane and cis-1,3-bis[(di-tert-butylphosphino)methyl]cyclohexane are reported. They react with 1 equivalent of dichloro(1,5-cyclooctadiene)platinum(II) [(COD)PtCl2] to give the cis coordinated complex cis-[PtCl2{cis-1,3-bis(di-isopropylphosphinito)}cyclohexane] and the C(sp3)-H activated complex trans-[PtCl{cis-1,3-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)}cyclohexane]. The new PCP ligand cis-1,3-bis(di-tert-butylphosphinito)cyclohexane was synthesised and reacts with [(COD)PtCl2] giving the di-nuclear trans-[PtCl2{cis-1,3-bis(di-tert-butylphosphinito)cyclohexane}]2, which is highly insoluble. All metal complexes were characterised with X-ray crystallography. DFT calculations indicate that the inability of the phosphinite ligands to cyclometallate is due to a kinetic barrier, possibly involving an axial-equatorial conformational change necessary for the C-H activation process.     

Metal-metal interactions in platinum(II)/gold(I) or platinum(II)/silver(I) salts containing planar cations and linear anions

The salts [Pt{C(NHMe)(2)}(4)][Au(CN)(2)](2), [Pt{C(NHMe)(2)}(4)][Ag(2)(CN)(3)][Ag(CN)(2)], [Pt(en)(2)][Au(CN)(2)](2), [Pt(en)(2)][Ag(CN)(2)](2), and [Pt(bipy)(2)][Au(CN)(2)](2) have been prepared by mixing solutions of salts containing the appropriate cation with solutions of K[Au(CN)(2)] or K[Ag(CN)(2)]. Because the platinum atom in the cation is sterically protected, the structures of [Pt{C(NHMe)(2)}(4)][Au(CN)(2)](2) and [Pt{C(NHMe)(2)}(4)][Ag(2)(CN)(3)][Ag(CN)(2)] reveal no close metal-metal interactions. Colorless crystals of [Pt(en)(2)][Au(CN)(2)](2) and [Pt(en)(2)][Ag(CN)(2)](2) are isostructural and involve extended chains of alternating cations and anions that run parallel to the crystallographic a axis, along with isolated anions. In the chains, the metal-metal separations are relatively short: Pt...Au, 3.1799(3) Angstroms; Pt...Ag, 3.1949(2) Angstroms. In [Pt(bipy)(2)][Au(CN)(2)](2), each cation has axial interactions with the anions through close Pt...Au contacts [3.1735(6) Angstroms]. In addition, the anions are weakly linked through Au...Au contacts of 3.5978(9) Angstroms. Unlike the previously reported Pt/Au complex [Pt(NH(3))(4)][Au(CN)(2)](2).1.5H(2)O, which is luminescent, none of the salts reported here luminesce.     

Zinc(II) complexes with an imidazolylpyridine ligand: luminescence and hydrogen bonding

ZnLCl and [H₂L]₂[ZnCl₄], based on 2-(1-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)pyridine (HL), have been synthesized. There is a short intraionic O–H···N hydrogen bond between the hydroxyimidazolyl and pyridyl of H₂L⁺ cations (N···O 2.608(2)?Å) in the structure of [H₂L]₂[ZnCl₄]. The formation of this rather strong hydrogen bond is confirmed by IR spectroscopy through a broad band at 3200–2200?cm^?1 and a band at 1655?cm^?1. HL crystallizes in the form of a hemihydrate, HL·0.5H₂O. HL assemble into infinite helical chains due to N–H···O intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the NH of imidazole and O of the N-oxide (O···N 2.623(2)?Å). An unusual mid-IR pattern with three broad bands at 3373, 2530, and 1850?cm^?1 is typical for strong hydrogen bonds, explained by resonance-assisted hydrogen bonding occurring in the helical chains. On cooling to 5?K, noticeable changes in the IR spectra of [H₂L]₂[ZnCl₄] and HL·0.5H₂O were observed. ZnLCl and [H₂L]₂[ZnCl₄] exhibit bright photoluminescence with maxima of emission at 458?nm (for ZnLCl) and 490?nm (for [H₂L]₂[ZnCl₄]).