Synthesis and characterization of luminescent zinc complexes containing redox-active 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-acenaphthequinol ligands with nonlinear optical property

• 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-acenaphthequinol was revisited and its Zn complex were synthesized and characterized.
• The ligand is a Purple-green dual luminescent compound.
• the ligand and the complex have significant different nonlinear absorption and refraction response.
• Electrochemical studies proved that both of the ligand and the complex were redox active.
• The DFT and TD-DFT calculations support the redox-active nature.

The redox-active ligand 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-acenaphthequinol (PAAL) and its zinc complex Zn(PAAL)2 were isolated and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, 1H NMR, UV–Vis spectra and TGA, as well as their fluorescence and third-order nonlinear optical properties were preliminary investigated. The electronic structure of the complex is examined by cyclic voltammogram, while density functional theory calculations also support the redox-active nature of the PAAL ligand.

The redox-active ligand 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-acenaphthequinol (PAAL) and its zinc complex Zn(PAAL)2 were isolated and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, 1H NMR, UV–Vis spectra and TGA, as well as their fluorescence and third-order nonlinear optical properties were preliminary investigated.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide