Syntheses, structures, and solid-state phosphorescence characteristics of trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(II) complexes bearing perpendicular N-aryl functionalities

The syntheses, structures, and solid-state emission characteristics of trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(II) complexes bearing N-aromatic functionalities are described herein. A series of Pt complexes bearing various N-phenyl (1) and N-(1-naphthyl) (2) groups on the salicylaldiminato ligands were prepared by reacting PtCl2(CH3CN)2 with the corresponding N-salicylidene aromatic amines, and the trans-coordination and crystal packing of these complexes were unequivocally established based on X-ray diffraction (XRD). Complexes with 2,6-dimethylphenyl (1c), 2,6-diisopropylphenyl (1d), 1-naphthyl (2a), and 1-(2-methylnaphthyl) (2b) groups on the N atoms exhibited intense phosphorescent emission at ambient temperature in the crystalline state, while those with phenyl (1a), 2,6-dibromophenyl (1b), and 2,6-bis(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl (1e) functionalities were either less emissive or non-emissive under the same conditions. XRD analyses identified significant intramolecular interactions between Pt and H atoms of the N-aryl functionalities in the emissive crystals of 1c, 1d, and 2a. These interactions were evidently an important factor associated with intense emission at ambient temperature.