Synthesis and characterization of metal complexes of Calcein Blue: Formation of monomeric, ion pair and coordination polymeric structures

A series of metal complexes containing the 4-methylumbelliferone-8-methyleneiminodiacetic acid (H3muia, also named as Calcein Blue) has been synthesized and characterized. Complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Zn(II) and Mg(II) have been structurally characterized while Ca(II) and Al(III) complexes by elemental analysis and thermogravimetry. The Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes are neutral and mononuclear in the solid state. Interestingly, the Mn(II), Zn(II) and Mg(II) muia complexes exist as ion-pairs containing hydrated or solvated metal cation and dimeric metal(II) muia anions. Owing to the presence of hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors in the ligand, hydrogen bonding interactions are dominant along with π–π stacking in their solid-state structures. The solid-state fluorescence studies indicate that the family of muia complexes exhibit comparable emission properties as in solution state, in which only main group and post-transition complexes show bright blue fluorescence while transition metal complexes do not fluoresce.