Supramolecular architectures in luminescent Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes containing imidazole derivatives: Crystal structures, vibrational and thermal properties, Hirshfeld surface analysis and electrostatic potentials

Abstract

Three novel zinc and cadmium complexes with 1-methylimidazole and 2-methylimidazole as ligands, mono-nuclear dichloro-bis(1-methylimidazole) zinc(II) and dibromo-bis(2-methylimidazole)cadmium(II) monohydrate complexes, and poly-nuclear bis(1-methylimidazole)-di-(μ2-bromo)cadmium(II) complex, namely, compounds 1–3, respectively, have been synthesized. The complexes were characterized by IR and Raman spectroscopies, thermal analysis and fluorescence. All the compounds exhibit interesting luminescent properties in solid state originated from intra-ligand (π→π*) transitions. Crystal structures of 1–3 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 crystallizes in P21/n space group, the Zn(II) ion lies at a crystal general position in a tetrahedral environment, and the mono-nuclear units are weakly bonded to one another by CH⋯Cl hydrogen bonds. Compound 2 crystallizes in Pnma space group, and mirror-related tetrahedral units around Cd(II) ion are H-bonded through a water molecule. Compound 3 crystallizes in P21/c space group, and the Cd(II) ion presents a centrosymmetric octahedral coordination. Neighboring and equatorial edge-sharing octahedra conform a polymeric arrangement that extends along the crystal a-axis. Weak hydrogen bonds are the major driving forces in the crystal packing of the three complexes. Hirshfeld surface analysis reveals a detailed scrutiny of intermolecular interactions experienced by each complex. The surfaces mapped over dnorm property highlight the X···H (X = Cl, Br) as the main intermolecular contacts for the three complexes, being also relevant the presence of O⋯H contacts for complex 2. The surfaces mapped over Shape index and curvedness properties for the two Cd complexes allow identify π … π stacking interactions which are absent in the Zn complex. 2D fingerprint plots have been used to quantify the relative contribution of the intermolecular contacts to crystal stability of compounds, showing the crucial importance of weak interactions in building different supramolecular architectures. Furthermore, molecular electrostatic potentials for visualizing and quantifying the attractive character of interactions were calculated.