Diverting metal coordination site in flavin–copper complexes for distinct nanoparticle synthesis

Abstract

The current study describes judiciously designed flavin analogues that use different metal coordination sites to engender structurally distinct, discrete flavin–copper complexes that are then utilized to generate morphologically distinct cuprous oxide nanoparticles. The ligand design encompasses a carboxylic pendant at the C7 or N10 position of the flavin core structure to bind the coordinating copper ion, resulting in distinct mononuclear dimeric flavin–copper complexes. Furthermore, the structurally distinct complexes were used to generate morphologically distinct cuprous oxide nanoparticles with different sizes. The present study offers a simpler yet elegant design strategy to create distinct complexes that can be extended to nanoparticle formation.