`0'‐ and `8'‐shaped complexes generated from a nano‐sized oxadiazole‐containing organic ligand with CdI2 and CuI

A new nano‐sized rigid double‐armed oxadiazole‐bridged organic ligand, 2,5‐bis{2‐methyl‐5‐[2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)ethenyl]phenyl}‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole, C₃₀H₂₀N₄O, L or (I), which adopts a cis conformation in the solid state, has been synthesized and used to create the two novel metallocycle complexes (2,5‐bis{2‐methyl‐5‐[2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl‐κN)ethenyl]phenyl}‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole)diiodidocadmium(II) dichloromethane monosolvate, [CdI₂(C₃₀H₂₀N₄O)]·CH₂Cl₂, (II), and di‐μ‐iodido‐bis[(2,5‐bis{2‐methyl‐5‐[2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl‐κN)ethenyl]phenyl}‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole)copper(I)], [Cu₂I₂(C₃₀H₂₀N₄O)₂], (III). Molecules of complex (II) adopts a 20‐membered `0'‐shaped metallocycle structure with crystallographic mirror symmetry. The discrete units are linked into one‐dimensional chains through intermolecular π–π and C—H...π interactions. In (III), the two I atoms and two Cu<sup>I</sup> atoms form a {Cu<sub>2</sub>(μ‐I)<sub>2</sub>} cluster. One {Cu<sub>2</sub>(μ‐I)<sub>2</sub>} cluster and two L ligands form two 20‐membered monometallic rings in a head‐to‐head fashion, leading to a discrete centrosymmetric `8'‐shaped metallocyclic complex. These metallocycles stack together via two kinds of intermolecular π–π interactions to generate a two‐dimensional network in the ac plane. The luminescence properties of (I)–(III) were investigated in the solid state at room temperature and displayed an obvious red shift.