Synthesis,characterization and luminescent properties of three-coordinate copper(I) halide complexes containing diphenylamino monodentate phosphine ligand

Three-coordinate copper halide complexes with a bidentate phosphine ligand have received much attention. Here, a series of three-coordinate dinuclear copper halide complexes containing a diphenylamino monodentate phosphine ligand, CuX(dpnp)]₂ (dpnp = N-2-(diphenylphosphino)-4,5-dimethylphenyl]-N-phenylaniline, X = I (1), Br (2) and Cl (3)), were synthesized, and their molecular structures and photophysical properties were investigated. The structural analysis reveals that two copper(I) centers are bridged by two halogen ligands to form a dinuclear structure with a four-membered Cu₂X₂ ring. Crystal structures of 1–3 contain 1-D supramolecular arrays constructed by intermolecular C–H?π interactions. These complexes exhibit blue emission in the solid state at room temperature and have peak emission wavelengths at 483–487 nm with microsecond lifetimes (τ = 13.9–38.1 μs) and low emission quantum yields (<0.01%). The emission of complex 1 mainly originates from intraligand (IL) transition, whereas the emissions of complexes 2 and 3 are from a combination of MLCT, XLCT and IL transitions. The three complexes displayed good thermal stability.