Blue luminescent zinc(II) complexes of 2,6-bis[1-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine and 2,6-bis[1-(2,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine

Two new Zn(II) complexes of, 2,6-bis[1-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine (L1), 2,6-bis[1-(2,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine (L2) were synthesized. These two complexes have the formulas Zn(L1)Cl2 (1) and Zn(L2)Cl2·CH3CN (2), respectively. Crystal structures of complexes 1 and 2 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic studies on 1 and 2 reveal both complexes to be five-coordinate with geometries that can be best described as distorted trigonal bipyramidal. Complexes 1 and 2 have blue luminescence at room temperature in solution and the solid state. The blue luminescence of the complexes is due to π* → π transition centered on the ligands. The Zn(II) centers play a key role in enhancing fluorescent emission of the ligands.