A series of novel indium complexes derived from aromatic carboxylic acids: Hydrothermal syntheses, crystal structures, supramolecular networks and fluorescent properties

•Four new indium complexes and one organic molecular were synthesized.•The strong noncovalent interactions form the 2D or 3D supermolecular structures.•1–5 display white, green and blue fluorescent in the solid state, respectively.•The fluorescence spectra of 3 and 5 almost have no change in different solvents.•The frameworks of 3 and 5 are stable up to 190 and 272 °C, respectively.

Five new compounds with mixed-ligand formulated as (H4bptc)(phen) (1), [In(phen)2Cl2](H4bptc)(NO3)(H2O) (2), [In(Hbptc)(phen)(H2O)]2 (3), In(2,6-pydc)(phen)(H2O)Cl (4), and {[In(2,6-pydc)(Ox)0.5(H2O)2](H2O)}2 (5) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Compounds 1–5 display white, green and blue fluorescence at 298 K in the solid state, respectively. It is shown that 1 assumes solvent-dependent photoluminescence. By contrast, the different polarities of solvents do not alter the luminescence position of 3 and 5. The thermogravimetric curves show that binuclear compounds 3 and 5 have excellent thermal stability, whose structures are stable up to 190 and 272 °C, respectively.

Graphical abstractFive new compounds with mixed-ligand formulated as (H4bptc)(phen) (1), [In(phen)2Cl2](H4bptc)(NO3)(H2O) (2), [In(Hbptc)(phen)(H2O)]2 (3), In(2,6-pydc)(phen)(H2O)Cl (4), and {[In(2,6-pydc)(Ox)0.5(H2O)2](H2O)}2 (5) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The strong hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions play an important role in governing the crystal packing and determining the formation of 2D–3D supermolecular structures. Compounds 1–5 display white, green and blue fluorescent at 298 K in the solid state, respectively. Binuclear compounds 3 and 5 have excellent thermal stability, whose frameworks are stable up to 190 and 272 °C, respectively.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide