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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Amide Coupling Reaction for the Synthesis of Bispyridine-based Ligands and Their Complexation to Platinum as Dinuclear Anticancer Agents
Published on: May 28, 2014
Structural basis for vapoluminescent organoplatinum materials derived from noncovalent interactions as recognition
Wei Lu1, Michael C W Chan, Nianyong Zhu
1Department of Chemistry and Open Laboratory of Chemical Biology, of the Institute of Molecular Technology for Drug Discovery and Synthesis, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Abstract:
The spectroscopic properties and crystal structures of a series of platinum(II) complexes bearing functionalized sigma-alkynyl groups, namely [(tBu(2)bpy)Pt(C triple bond CAr)(2)] (tBu(2)bpy = 4,4'-bis-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine, Ar = 4-pyridyl, 1; 3-pyridyl, 2; 2-pyridyl, 3; 4-ethynylpyridyl, 4; 2-thienyl, 5; pentafluorophenyl, 6) have been studied. Solid-state emissions of 1 and 6 are dependent on their crystallinity. Reversible and selective vapoluminescence was observed for 1 and 6 in the presence of chlorocarbon vapors. For solid 1, dramatic enhancement of green luminescence is observed upon sorption of CH(2)Cl(2) or CHCl(3) vapor. The excimeric orange emission for solid 6 is switched to monomeric green emission upon exposure to CH(2)Cl(2) vapor. The luminescent responses of a thin film of 1 towards various organic vapors have also been examined. In the crystallographically determined structure of 1.CH(2)Cl(2), the bis(acetylide) moiety acts as the receptor berth for a CH(2)Cl(2) molecule through concerted C-H.pi(C triple bond C) interactions, while Cl.Cl interactions connect the CH(2)Cl(2) molecules into infinite linear chains. The observed crystal lattices are arranged into scaffolds of varying porosity by weak C-H...N(py) (1.CH(2)Cl(2), 1.CH(3)CN, 4.DMF) and C-H...F-C (6, 6.CH(3)CN) interactions. The correlation between the crystal structures of 1.CH(2)Cl(2), 1.CH(3)CN, 2, 4.DMF, 5, 6, and 6.CH(3)CN and their vapoluminescence suggests that weak nonconventional hydrogen-bonding interactions preside over the reversible sensing and signalling processes.
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