Anions-induced assembly: Structures and luminescent properties

Self-assembly of a multidentate ligand containing pyridyl groups, namely, 6-phenyl-4-(4′-[2-(2-naphthalene)ethenyl]phenyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (L) with corresponding zinc(II) salts, affords a series of coordination complexes, ZnLI2 (I), [ZnLCl2]2 · 2CH2Cl2 (II), ZnLBr2 (III). Complexes I and II were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (CIF files CCDC nos. 943273 (I), 944798 (II)). In complex I, the π-π stacking and C-H⋯π interactions based on the pyridyl group constructed the 1D and 2D structures. While in complex II, various weak interactions including hydrogen bonds (C-H⋯Cl and C-H⋯π) played significant roles in the final supramolecular structures. The luminescent properties of ligand and the complexes were investigated. The results reveal that different anions have shown a great influence on both the molecular structures and luminescent properties of the complexes.