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Controlled Self-assembly of Gold(I) Complexes by Multiple Kinetic Aggregation States with Nonlinear Optical and
Zongshang Li1, Ke Xiao2, Qingyun Wan1
1Department of Chemistry and State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|December 9, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed chiral and achiral gold(I) complexes that self-assemble into multiple kinetic aggregation states. Chiral assemblies exhibit nonlinear optical properties (second harmonic generation), while achiral ones function as polarized optical waveguides.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Coordination Chemistry
Background:
- Achieving complex self-assemblies with multiple kinetic aggregation states (Aggs) is challenging due to delicate equilibria governed by weak noncovalent interactions.
- Gold(I) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands offer potential for controlled self-assembly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the self-assembly behavior of chiral and achiral d10 AuI bis(NHC) complexes.
- To explore the generation of multiple kinetic aggregation states in AuI self-assemblies.
- To evaluate the optical properties of the resulting chiral and achiral self-assemblies.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of chiral and achiral d10 AuI bis(NHC) complexes.
- Controlled self-assembly using chiral or achiral seeds with distinct elongation temperatures to generate multiple kinetic Aggs.
- Characterization of self-assembly pathways and aggregation states.
- Nonlinear optical (NLO) measurements, specifically second harmonic generation (SHG).
- Optical property evaluation, including emission polarization and waveguide functionality.
Main Results:
- The achiral AuI complex successfully self-assembled into multiple kinetic Aggs.
- Chiral AuI self-assemblies with non-centrosymmetric packing exhibited a second harmonic generation (SHG) response.
- Achiral AuI self-assemblies, despite lacking SHG, demonstrated functionality as optical waveguides with strong emission polarization.
Conclusions:
- Multiple kinetic aggregation states can be controllably generated in AuI self-assembly using seeded approaches.
- Chiral AuI self-assemblies offer tunable nonlinear optical properties based on their non-centrosymmetric structures.
- Achiral AuI self-assemblies present opportunities for applications in optical waveguide technologies.
