Volume 244, 2023

Structural modifications to platinum(ii) pincer complexes resulting in changes in their vapochromic and solvatochromic properties

Abstract

There is a need to develop rapidly responsive chemical sensors for the detection of low concentrations of volatile organic solvents (VOCs). Platinum pincer complexes have shown promise as sensors because of their colours and vapochromic and solvatochromic properties, that may be related to the non-covalent interactions between the pincer complexes and the guest VOCs. Here we report an investigation into a series of Pt(II) complexes based on the 1,3-di(pyridine)benzene tridentate (N⁁C⁁N) skeleton with the formula [Pt(N⁁C(R)⁁N)(CN)] (R = C(O)Me 2, C(O)OEt 3, C(O)OPh 4) with the fourth coordination site occupied by a cyanide ligand. Solid-state samples of the complexes have been tested with a range of volatiles including methanol, ethanol, acetone, dichloromethane and water, and while 2 displays thermochromism, 3 and 4 display rapidly reversible vapochromism and solvatochromism. These results are correlated with X-ray powder and single crystal X-ray structural data including an assessment of the crystal packing and the void space in the crystalline space. The cyanide ligand and the R substituents are involved in hydrogen bonding that creates the voids within the structures and interact with the solvent molecules that influence the Pt⋯Pt separation in the crystalline state.

Graphical abstract: Structural modifications to platinum(ii) pincer complexes resulting in changes in their vapochromic and solvatochromic properties

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 feb 2023
Accepted
08 feb 2023
First published
09 feb 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Faraday Discuss., 2023,244, 411-433

Structural modifications to platinum(II) pincer complexes resulting in changes in their vapochromic and solvatochromic properties

M. J. Bryant, S. Fuertes, L. E. Hatcher, L. H. Thomas and P. R. Raithby, Faraday Discuss., 2023, 244, 411 DOI: 10.1039/D3FD00025G

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