Two photoluminescent pentanuclear homo- and hetero-metal complexes based on benzotriazole bridge

Two new discrete Btz-bridged pentanuclear metal complexes, [HDMF][NaHg₄(Btz)₆I₄] (1) and [Zn₅(Btz)₆(L)₃(Ac)]?·?0.5MeOH?·?0.5H₂O (2) (Btz?=?deprotonated benzotriazole, L?=?p-aminobenzoate, HDMF?=?protonated DMF, and Ac?=?acetate), were synthesized using three-layered diffusion and natural evaporation methods, respectively. In 1, the pentanuclear anion [NaHg₄(Btz)₆I₄]^? is composed of a tetrahedral arrangement of four four-coordinate Hg(II) ions centered on the six-coordinate Na(I), and thereby forming a rare Btz-bridged hetero-metal complex. Compound 2 is a neutral pentanuclear homo-metal complex, consisting of a tetrahedral arrangement of four five-coordinate Zn(II) ions centered on the fifth six-coordinate Zn(II). The thermal stabilities and solid-state photoluminescence of the two complexes have been investigated.