Structures, fluorescent properties of the Ag(I) compounds based on molecular clips with biphenyl core

Three silver complexes Ag2(L)2(NO3)2 (1), Ag2(L)2(SO3CF3)2(H2O)0.5 (2), and [Ag2(L)2(NO3)2]n (3) were prepared from molecular clips, 2,2′-Bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-biphenyl (L) and structurally characterized to investigate the structural-luminescent relation. Compound 1 is a bimetallic supramolecular rectangle in which two L ligands are connected by two linearly coordinated Ag(I) ions. Compound 2 is described as a double helicate due to the nature of the twist of the imidazole groups after coordination to Ag(I) centers. In compound 3, the Ag(I) centers are connected by L ligands into a one-dimensional zigzag chain. Solid state and solution fluorescent measurements exhibit the presence of ligand-based emission at 415 and 435 nm of compounds 1 and 2, respectively. It is said that the dihedral angles between the two imidazole rings coordinated to one Ag(I) center affect the emission properties.