Syntheses and luminescence of four supramolecular coordination complexes with flexible ligand

Four d10-based complexes with chemical formulae {[Zn(L1)2(H2O)2(4,4′-Bipy)2] (I), {[Zn2(L1)4(Mi)] · 4H2O} (II), {[Zn(L1)2(Phen)] · H2O} (III) {[Cd(L1)2(Phen)] · 2H2O} (IV) (HL1 = p-hydroxy phenylacetic acid, 4,4′-Bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine, Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, Mi = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)butane) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (CIF files CCDC nos. 1047119 (I), 1047120 (II), 1047121 (III), 1047122 (IV)). The significant effect of assistant ligands and metal ions on assembly of I‒IV has been demonstrated, which leads to the formation of distinct crystalline products. Complexes I‒IV show various coordination motifs with different existing forms and coordination modes of the organic ligands. Furthermore, extend supramolecular networks are connected by secondary interactions such as hydrogen-bonding and aromatic stacking. The thermal stability and luminescent properties of the compounds were discussed in detail.