A luminescent silver–phosphine tetragonal cage based on tetraphenylethylene†
Abstract
A novel phosphine-based tetragonal Ag4L2 cage has been assembled from a tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based tetraphosphine and Ag+ ions. The cage structure is maintained both in solutions and in the solid state. Ag4L2 emits strong fluorescence not only in dilute solutions but also in aggregated states. The turn-on fluorescence of TPE-P4 in dilute solutions is attributed to the formation of Ag4L2. Ag4L2 shows potential as a fluorescent sensor towards anions and olefin compounds, which arises from binding of the guest anions/olefin compounds by its labile silver centres.