Steric and Electronic Effects on the Structure and Photophysical Properties of Hg(II) Complexes

Altres ajuts: Acord transformatiu CRUE-CSICAltres ajuts: Fundació La Caixa (projectes CB615921 i CB616406)Since many factors influence the coordination around a metal center, steric and electronic effects of the ligands mainly determine the connectivity and, thus, the final arrangement. This is emphasized on Hg(II) centers, which have a zero point stabilization energy and, thus, a flexible coordination environment. Therefore, the unrestricted Hg(II) geometry facilitates the predominance of the ligands during the structural inception. Herein, we synthesized and characterized a series of six Hg(II) complexes with general formula (Hg(Pip)2(dPy)) (Pip = piperonylate, dPy = 3-phenylpyridine (3-phpy) (1), 4-phenylpyridine (4-phpy) (2), 2,2'-bipyridine (2,2'-bipy) (3), 1,10-phenanthroline (1,10-phen) (4), 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (terpy) (5), or di(2-picolyl)amine (dpa) (6)). The elucidation of their crystal structures revealed the arrangement of three monomers (3, 5, and 6), one dimer (4), and two coordination polymers (1 and 2) depending on the steric requirements of the dPy and predominance of the ligands. Besides, the study of their photophysical properties in solution supported by TD-DFT calculations enabled us to understand their electronic effects and the influence of the structural arrangement on them

Tuning Photophysical Properties by p-Functional Groups in Zn(II) and Cd(II) Complexes with Piperonylic Acid

Altres ajuts: Fundació La Caixa: projectes CB615921 i CB616406Aggregation between discrete molecules is an essential factor to prevent aggregationcaused quenching (ACQ). Indeed, functional groups capable of generating strong hydrogen bonds are likely to assemble and cause ACQ and photoinduced electron transfer processes. Thus, it is possible to compare absorption and emission properties by incorporating two ligands with a different bias toward intra-and intermolecular interactions that can induce a specific structural arrangement. In parallel, the π electron-donor or electron-withdrawing character of the functional groups could modify the Highest Ocuppied Molecular Orbital (HOMO)-Lowest Unocuppied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) energy gap. Reactions of M(OAc)2·2H2O (M = Zn(II) and Cd(II); OAc = acetate) with 1,3benzodioxole-5-carboxylic acid (Piperonylic acid, HPip) and 4-acetylpyridine (4-Acpy) or isonicotinamide (Isn) resulted in the formation of four complexes. The elucidation of their crystal structure showed the formation of one paddle-wheel [Zn(μ-Pip)2(4-Acpy)]2 (1); a mixture of one dimer and two monomers [Zn(µ-Pip)(Pip)(Isn)2]2·2[Zn(Pip)2(HPip)(Isn)]·2MeOH (2); and two dimers [Cd(μPip)(Pip)(4-Acpy)2]2 (3) and [Cd(μ-Pip)(Pip)(Isn)2]2·MeOH (4). They exhibit bridged (1, µ2-η:η), bridged, chelated and monodentated (2, µ2-η:η, µ1-η:η and µ1-η), or simultaneously bridged and chelated (3 and 4, µ2-η:η) coordination modes. Zn(II) centers accommodate coordination numbers 5 and 6, whereas Cd(II) presents coordination number 7. We have related their photophysical properties and fluorescence quantum yields with their geometric variations and interactions supported by TD-DFT calculations