Synthesis, structure and photophysical properties of a binuclear Zn(II) complex based on 8-hydroxyquinoline ligand with naphthyl unit

A 2-substituted-8-hydroxyquinoline ligand (E)-2-[2-naphthyl-ethenyl]-8-hydroxyquinoline (HL) was synthesized and characterized by LC-MS, NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Using a solvothermal method, a binuclear complex [Zn2L4] (1) was fabricated by self-assembly of Zn(II) ion with ligand HL. X-ray structural analysis shows that the binuclear Zn(II) units are linked into 1D chain along the b axis via aromatic stacking. The coordination assembly of zinc salt and HL in solutions was investigated by UV-vis and photoluminescence (PL). Additionally, we also studied the thermal stability and photophysical properties of (fluorescent emission and lifetime) complex 1. The experimental results show that the complex 1 emits yellow luminescence in the solid state.