New copper(I) iodides with bisimidazole molecules: Synthesis, structural characterization and photoluminescence property

• Published in: Journal of solid state chemistry 2017-07, Vol.251, p.176-185
• Main Authors: Wang, Rong-Yan, Zhang, Xiao, Yang, Qing-Feng, Huo, Qi-Sheng, Yu, Jie-Hui, Xu, Jia-Ning, Xu, Ji-Qing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bisimidazole molecules; Coordination polymers; Copper(I) iodides; Cu···Cu interactions; Photoluminescence
• ISSN: 0022-4596; 1095-726X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2017.04.022

The hydro(solvo)thermal reactions of CuI with diverse bisimidazole molecules were investigated, affording five new copper(I) iodides [Cu4I4(L1)2] (L1=1,3-bis(2-methylimidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene) 1, [CuI(L2)] (L2=4,4′-bis(imidazolyl)biphenyl) 2, [Cu4I4(L3)] (L3=1,3-bis(2-methylimidazol-1-yl)propane) 3, [Cu4I4(L4)2] (L4=1,4-bis(2-ethylimidazol-1-yl)butane) 4, and [Cu4I4(L5)] (L5=1,4-bis(1-imidazoly)benzene) 5. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis reveals that (i) in 1, a tetranuclear Cu-I cluster (stepped cubane) is observed, and the L1 molecule only acts as an ancillary ligand; (ii) in 2, the L2 molecules extend the castellated Cu-I chains into a 2-D layer network with a certain thickness; (iii) in 2-D single-layer network of 3, a 1-D Cu-I column is found, which can be viewed as a longitudinal packing of stepped Cu4I4 cubanes; (vi) in 4, the L4 molecules propagate the cubic Cu4I4 cubanes into a 3-D 4-fold interpenetrated network with a cds topology; and (v) in 5, the L5 molecules link the 1-D Cu-I ribbons into a 2-D single-layer network. The photoluminescence analysis indicates that 1, 2 and 4 emit light (red light for 1; yellow light for 2 and 4), while 3 and 5 are not emissive. Their photoluminescence behaviors are confirmed to be related to the Cu···Cu interactions in the molecules. Structural characterization of five new copper(I) iodides with bisimidazole molecules are reported, and their photoluminescence properties are investigated. [Display omitted] •Structural characterization of five copper(I) iodides with bisimidazole molecules is reported.•Effect of bisimidazole molecules on copper(I)-iodo topologies and polymeric networks is discussed.•Their photoluminescence properties are investigated.