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.

Graphical abstractThe 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 full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide