Color-tunable solid-state emissions of Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes derived from cyano-modified 2-substituted 8-hydroxyquinolines

By self-assembly of the (E)-2-[2-(2-cyano)ethenyl]-8-hydroxyquinoline and (E)-2-[2-(4-cyano)ethenyl]-8-hydroxyquinoline ligand with zinc(II) and cadmium(II) metal ions, monomeric complex [Zn(L1)2] (1), trimeric complex [Zn3(L2)6] (2) and tetrameric complex [Cd4(L2)8] (3) have been obtained. The three complexes have been characterized by X-ray diffraction. Luminescence properties of complexes have been investigated.