Novel Luminescent Mixed‐Metal PtTl‐Alkynyl‐Based Complexes: The Role of the Alkynyl Substituent in Metallophilic and η2(π⋅⋅⋅Tl)‐Bonding Interactions

Abstract

A novel series of [PtTl(2)(C[triple chemical bond]CR)(4)](n) (n = 2, R = 4-CH(3)C(6)H(4) (Tol) 1, 1-naphthyl (Np) 2; n = infinity, R = 4-CF(3)C(6)H(4) (Tol(F)) 3) complexes has been synthesized by neutralization reactions between the previously reported [Pt(C[triple chemical bond]CR)(4)](2-) (R = Tol, Tol(F)) or novel (NBu(4))(2)[Pt(C[triple chemical bond]CNp)(4)] platinum precursors and Tl(I) (TlNO(3) or TlPF(6)). The crystal structures of [Pt(2)Tl(4)(C[triple chemical bond]CTol)(8)]4 acetone, 14 acetone, [Pt(2)Tl(4)(C[triple chemical bond]CNp)(8)]3 acetone1/3 H(2)O, 23 acetone 1/3 H(2)O and [[PtTl(2)(C[triple chemical bond]CTol(F))(4)](acetone)S](infinity) (S = acetone 3 a; dioxane 3 b) have been solved by X-ray diffraction studies. Interestingly, whereas in the tolyl (1) and naphthyl (2) derivatives, the thallium centers exhibit a bonding preference for the electron-rich alkyne entities to yield crystal lattices based on sandwich hexanuclear [Pt(2)Tl(4)(C[triple chemical bond]CR)(8)] clusters (with additional Tlacetone (1) or Tlnaphthyl (2) secondary interactions), in the C(6)H(4)CF(3) (Tol(F)) derivatives 3 a and 3 b the basic Pt(II) center forms two unsupported Pt-Tl bonds. As a consequence 3 a and 3 b form an extended columnar structure based on trimetallic slipped PtTl(2)(C[triple chemical bond]CTol(F))(4) units that are connected through secondary Tl(eta(2)-acetylenic) interactions. The luminescent properties of these complexes, which in solution (blue; CH(2)Cl(2) 1,2; acetone 3) are very different to those in solid state (orange), have been studied. Curiously, solid-state emission from 1 is dependent on the presence of acetone (green) and its crystallinity. On the other hand, while a powder sample of 3 is pale yellow and displays blue (457 nm) and orange (611 nm) emissions, the corresponding pellets (KBr, solid) of 3, or the fine powder obtained by grinding, are orange and only exhibit a very intense orange emission (590 nm).