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• Two-coordinate N-heterocyclic carbene Cu(I) complexes are synthesized and characterized. • The photophysical properties of the resulting complexes is investigated. • Ligand-centered blue to green to yellow emission observed with π-π* character. • DFT and TDDFT calculations are employed to explain the photophysical properties. Here, we report a series of two-coordinate N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) copper(I) complexes having monodenate NHC 1,3-bis(2,6- diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) (IPr) as a σ donor and quinoline and its derivatives as π-chromophore ligands, [Cu(IPr)(Quinoline)]BF 4 (P1), [Cu(IPr)(Chloroquinoline)]BF 4 (P2), [Cu(IPr)(Phenylquinoline)]BF 4 (P3), and [Cu(IPr)(Aminoquinoline)]BF 4 (P4), (Chloroquinoline = 2,4-dichloroquinoline, Phenylquinoline = 2-phenylquinoline, Aminoquinoline = 2,4-diaminequinoline). The X-ray diffraction studies of P1 and P3 revealed the linear coordination around the copper atom. P1 and P2 exhibit the typical metal-to-ligand charge transfer (1MLCT) absorption bands in the lowest-lying energy region, while P3 and P4 show the mixed characters of ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (1LLCT) and π→π* transition. The emission wavelengths of all NHC Cu(I) complexes can be fine-tuned to cover the spectral range of 419–543 nm with the main 3(π-π) emission origin in the solid state. The differences for photophysical properties of NHC Cu(I) complexes were rationalized using density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four-coordinate N -heterocyclic carbene (NHC) Cu(I) complexes having the pyridyl-imidazolylidene ligand are synthesized and characterized. • The photophysical properties of the resulting complexes is investigated. • Complexes show yellow-green emission in 543–555 nm region with the higher photoluminescence efficiency. • DFT and TDDFT calculations are taken to support the differences of the photophysical properties. The synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of a series of the four-coordinate N -heterocyclic carbene (NHC) copper(I) complexes are reported. These NHC-Cu(I) complexes contain two bidentate ligands, the R -substituted pyridyl-imidazolylidene-type ligand and diphosphine ligand bis [(2-diphenylphosphino)phenyl] ether (POP). The photophysical properties of these complexes can be adjusted depending on the nature of substituents at 4-position of the phenyl ring in the NHC ligand. The metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption band can be observed for all complexes at 348–362 nm, and the emission wavelengths can be fine-tuned to cover the spectral range of 543–555 nm with the higher photoluminescence efficiency of up to 66.2% in the solid state. Density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations were employed to support potophysical properties of the NHC-Cu(I) complexes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four-coordinate N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) Cu(I) complexes bearing different diphosphine ligands are synthesized and characterized. • The photophysical properties of the resulting complexes is investigated. • Complexes show yellow-green emission in 525–555 nm region with the phosphorescent origin. • The differences of the photophysical properties were rationalized by DFT and TDDFT calculations. Here, we report a series of the four-coordinate N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) copper(I) complexes having the same bidenate NHC ligand and different bisphosphine (P^P) ligands, [Cu(CNbenPy-benzIm)(Naphphos)]PF 6 (P1), [Cu(CNbenPy-benzIm)(cyc-xantphos)]PF 6 (P2), and [Cu(CNbenPy-benzIm)(xantphos)]PF 6 (P3), (CNbenPy-benzIm = 3-(3-cyanobenzyl)-1-(5-phenylpyridin-2-yl)-1 H -imidazolylidene; BINAP = 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene; cyc-xantphos = (9,9-dimethyl-9 H -xanthene-4,5-diyl)bis(dicyclohexylphosphine), xantphos = 9,9-dimethyl-9 H -xanthene-4,5-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine)). P1 exhibits the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption band at 366 nm with high molar extinction coefficient of 2.44 × 104 M−1 cm−1, while P2 and P3 show a blue-shift of the MLCT absorption band at 336–341 nm with the molar extinction coefficients of 0.82–1.16 × 104 M−1 cm−1, which are just a little lower than that of P1. The emission wavelengths of all NHC-Cu(I) complexes can be fine-tuned to cover the spectral range of 525–555 nm with the phosphorescent origin in PMMA films. P1 has the lowest photoluminescence efficiency of 5.50% with the red-shifted emission wavelength at 555 nm and the emission lifetime of 237 μs, whereas P3 show the highest photoluminescence efficiency of 39.5% with the blue-shifted emission wavelength at 525 nm and the emission lifetime of 64.4 μs. The differences for photophysical properties of NHC-Cu(I) complexes were rationalized using density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three four-coordinate N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) copper(I) complexes, [Cu(Ph-BenIm-Py)(POP)]PF 6 ( 1 ), [Cu(Naph-BenIm-Py)(POP)]PF 6 ( 2 ), and [Cu(Anthr-BenIm-Py)(POP)]PF 6 ( 3 ) (Ph-BenIm-Py = 3-benzyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-1 H -benzimidazolylidene, Naph-BenIm-Py = 3-(naphthalen-2-yl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-1 H - benzimidazolylidene, Anthr-BenIm-Py = 3-(anthracen-9-yl)-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-1 H -benzimidazolylidene, and POP = bis[2-diphenylphosphino]-phenyl)ether) have been synthesized and characterized. The different aryl substituents (phenyl, naphthyl, and anthracyl groups) were introduced into NHC ligands and the corresponding photophysical properties of the complexes were systematically investigated. The absorption spectra of all NHC Cu(I) complexes show a characteristic feature of metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) in the lower-energy region. Complex 1 exhibited good photoluminescence (PL) properties companying with the high quantum yields and long excited-state lifetimes, whereas 2 and 3 with naphthyl and anthracyl groups show the low PL efficiency caused by the strong π-π stacking interactions. Density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations were employed to rationalize the photophysical properties of the NHC Cu(I) complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three-coordinate copper(I) complexes bearing POP and monodentate substituted-quinoline ligands were synthesized and characterized. • The electron-donating/withdrawing groups including methoxyphenyl and trifluoromethylphenyl groups were inserted into the complexes. • Cu(I) complexes exhibited yellow-green emissions at 542-558 nm with longer excited-state lifetimes of 179–487 µs. • The photophysical properties were explained by DFT and TDDFT calculations. The three-coordinate Cu(I) complexes [Cu(POP)(X)]PF 6 , X = quinoline (P1), 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)quinoline (P2), 2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)quinoline (P3), POP = bis[(2-diphenylphosphino)phenyl] ether were synthesized and characterized. The photophysical properties of these Cu(I) complexes were tuned by the addition of organic groups including methoxyphenyl and trifluoromethylphenyl groups into the quinoline ligand. The resulting complexes exhibit the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) band in the lower energy. The emissions for all the complexes in solid state are in the range of 542–558 nm with higher quantum yields of 11.4–14.2% and long-lived excited lifetimes of 179–481 µs at room temperature. The photophysical properties were further explained by DFT and TDDFT methods. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Schiff base copper (I) complexes bearing the bulky adamantyl moiety were synthesized and characterized. • The electron-donating/withdrawing groups including –OCH 3 and –CF 3 were inserted into the complexes. • Cu(I) omplexes exhibited organe-red emissions at 611–619 nm with shorter excited-state lifetimes of 5.55–7.53 μs. • The origin of the emission is attributed the 3MLCT/3LLCT/3π-π* state supported by the TDDFT calculations. Herein, the three novel copper (I) complexes bearing Schiff base ligands of the types [Cu(Phen-PyMethylene-Adam-Amine)(POP)]PF6 (P1), [Cu(Methoxyl-Phen-PyMethylene-Adam-Amine)(POP)]PF6 (P2), and [Cu(TriflMethyl-Phen-PyMethylene-Adam-Amine)(POP)]PF6 (P3) (Phen-PyMethylene-Adam-Amine = ((5-phenylpyridin-2-yl)methylene)adamantan-1-amie, Methoxyl-Phen-PyMethylene-Adam-Amine = ((5-(4-methoxyphenyl)pyridin-2-yl)methylene)adamantan-1-amine, TriflMethyl-Phen-PyMethylene-Adam-Amine = ((5-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)methylene)adamantan-1-amine, POP=bis[2- diphenylphosphino ]-phenyl)ether) have been prepared and investigated. Incorporation of the bulky adamantyl group into the complexes can enhance the stability of the complexes. The different electron-donating/withdrawing groups such as –H, –OCH 3 , and –CF 3 substituents were functionalized onto the pyridine ring part of Schiff base ligands to tune the emission behavior of the resulting Schiff base Cu(I) complexes. All complexes exhibit the lowest energy metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) characters in 400–450 nm region showing a slight blue-shift of the absorption wavelengths in the order P3 > P1 > P2. Organe-red emissions in the region of 611-619 nm with photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY) of 1.0–1.3% can be observed in the solid state. Additionally, the photophysical properties are also investigated theoretically using density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent DFT. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Schiff base-type copper(I) complexes were synthesized and characterized. • Triphenylamine group was employed to construct copper(I) complexes with high light absorption abilities. • The photophysical properties of complexes including phenyl, naphthyl and adamantanyl groups were investigated.. • DFT/TDDFT methods were employed to rationalize the photophysical properties. The three Schiff base-type Cu(I) complexes [Cu(POP)(N^N)]PF 6 , N^ N = N ,N-diphenyl-4-(6-((phenylimino)methyl)pyridin-3-yl)aniline (P1), N-((5-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)methylene)naphthalen-2-amine (P2), N-((5-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)methylene)adamantan-1-amine (P3), were prepared and characterized. The photophysical properties of these Cu(I) complexes is tuned by the addition of different substituents such as phenyl, naphthyl and adamantanyl groups into the backbone of Schiff base ligand. The resulting complexes exhibit high absorption ability in the visible region with molar extinction coefficients of up to 3 7400 M−1 cm−1. The emissions in CH 2 Cl 2 solution are in the range of 551–552 nm with lower quantum yields of 1.1–2.0% and short-lived excited lifetimes of 2.78–3.09 ns for all the complexes at room temperature. The photophysical properties were further explained by DFT and TDDFT methods. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]