Synthesis,structure and luminescent properties of zinc(II) and Hg(II) complexes with substituted 1,10-phenanthroline

Two d¹⁰ group 12 metal complexes, 2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline zinc dichloride (2a) and 2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline mercury dichloride (2b) were synthesized and characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR as well as elemental analysis. Structure of 2b in the solid state was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, revealing that 2b is four-coordinate in a distorted tetrahedral geometry with the methoxy group uncoordinated. Luminescent properties of 2a and 2b in solution and the solid state were studied.