Luminescence Switching of Organogold(I) Complexes between Aggregation‐induced Phosphorescence Enhancement and Aggregation‐caused Quenching by Balancing Auxiliary Ligands around the AuI Center

Abstract

AbstractAttaching AIE‐active L1 ([1,1′:2′,1′′:4′′,1′′′‐quaterphenyl]‐2‐yldiphenylphosphane) to AuCl, shortened the distances of P−C bonds to promote electron cloud overlap between AuI and L1, affords 1 (L1AuCl) with aggregation‐induced phosphorescence enhancement (AIPE) activity by 3LMCT transitions. Then substituting the coplanar L2 (9‐ethynylanthracene) for the Cl− in 1 providing 2, switches the luminescence to aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) activity. Furthermore, we restore the performance from ACQ to AIPE by metathesis reactions to transfer 2 into 1. It is versatile synthetic strategy of reversible transformation between 1 and 2 that switches the luminescence of organogold(I) between AIPE and ACQ through balancing auxiliary ligands around the given metal.