Synthesis and photophysical behaviour of Cu(I) complexes with N and P donor ligands

Abstract

The objective of this study is to synthesize and characterize N donor ligands and their corresponding Cu(I) coordination complexes with both four and two-coordinated structures. Additionally, phosphine donor ligands such as triphenylphosphine, SPhos, XPhos, and Jhonphos will be incorporated as co-ligands in the coordination complexes. The photoluminescent properties of Cu(I) compounds have been observed to be intriguing when combined with N and P donor ligands. All synthesized complexes exhibit a high degree of emission behaviour in the solid state. In addition, the solution state of all two coordinated complexes is also emissive. The emission arises from (M+X)LCT in complexes C1-3, while in complexes C4-9, it originates from MLCT. The four coordinated complexes exhibit both mechanochromism and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) activity. All the synthesised Cu(I) complexes underwent characterization through the utilisation of 1H, 13C{1H}, and 31P NMR, as well as HRMS (C4-9 exclusively). The crystal structures of complexes C1-3 were determined using the single-crystal X ray diffraction method.