Synthesis and photophysical properties of Cu(I) complexes

Abstract

This project aims to synthesise and characterise N-donor ligands, along with their Cu(I) coordination polymers and complexes, and to investigate their potential applications. Cu(I) complexes are luminescent in the UV-visible range upon excitation, and this makes them suitable for use as emitters in optoelectronic devices. Along with their structural diversity, they have other applications such as sensing, separation, adsorption and photocatalysis. In this study, N-donor ligands based on triphenylamine (TPA) moiety and triazole-TPA-based ligands were synthesised (L1 and L2). Owing to the structural properties of TPA, L1 and L2 were emissive at room temperature and demonstrated solvatochromism, acidochromism and mechanochromism. Additionally, the influence of free phenyl on TPA was examined. Further, a new ligand, L3, was synthesised with structural modifications on the TPA backbone. L3 had two pyridyl rings with a free phenyl ring over nitrogen, similar to TPA. All synthesised ligands were characterised by mass spectrometry, 1H NMR spectroscopy and 13C{1H}. NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, L1 and L2 were also characterised by SCXRD. These ligands were then reacted with CuI with different stoichiometry in various solvents. Reactions of L3 with CuI gave crystalline, orange luminescent coordination polymer (CP3). CP3 was characterised by SCXRD.