Zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes based on 4-(3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-(piperidin-1-yl)pyrimidine (L): Synthesis, structure, luminescence. Double lone pair–π interactions in the structure of ZnL2Cl2

A series of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes with 4-(3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-(piperidin-1-yl)pyrimidine (L), ZnLCl2, CdLCl2, ZnL2Cl2, CdL2Cl2, CdL2Cl2·0.5Me2CO·1.5H2O and CdL2Cl2·0.5CHCl3·0.5H2O, have been synthesized. The compounds ZnLCl2 and CdLCl2 were obtained in a M:L = 1:1 molar ratio in EtOH solutions, while ZnL2Cl2 and CdL2Cl2 were isolated in a M:L = 1:3 molar ratio in EtOH/Me2CO mixtures. Surprisingly, attempts to crystallize CdLCl2 from EtOH/Me2CO mixture afforded single crystals of a compound, having 1:2 metal-to-ligand stoichiometry, CdL2Cl2·0.5Me2CO·1.5H2O, instead of a complex with 1:1 stoichiometry. At the same time, crystallization of CdL2Cl2 from Me2CO/CHCl3 mixture afforded CdL2Cl2·0.5CHCl3·0.5H2O single crystals. According to X-ray crystal structure data, ZnLCl2, ZnL2Cl2, CdL2Cl2·0.5Me2CO·1.5H2O and CdL2Cl2·0.5CHCl3·0.5H2O complexes have molecular mononuclear structures. The molecules of L adopt bidentate chelating binding mode being coordinated to the metal ions through N2 atom of the pyrazole and N3 atom of the pyrimidine rings. The coordination core of zinc atom in ZnLCl2 complex is a distorted ZnN2Cl2 tetrahedron. The coordination cores of metal atoms in the structures of ZnL2Cl2, CdL2Cl2·0.5Me2CO·1.5H2O and CdL2Cl2·0.5CHCl3·0.5H2O are the distorted cis-MN4Cl2 (M = Zn, Cd) octahedra. In the structure of ZnL2Cl2 double lone pair(N(piperidine))–π(pyrimidine) interactions were observed. The photoluminescent properties of L, ZnLCl2, CdLCl2, ZnL2Cl2 and CdL2Cl2 were studied in the solid state under the same experimental conditions. These compounds were found to display bright blue luminescence. Highest relative intensity of emission was detected for ZnL2Cl2.

Graphical abstractA series of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes with 4-(3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-(piperidin-1-yl)pyrimidine (L), ZnLCl2, CdLCl2, ZnL2Cl2, CdL2Cl2, CdL2Cl2·0.5Me2CO·1.5H2O and CdL2Cl2·0.5CHCl3·0.5H2O, have been synthesized. In the structure of ZnL2Cl2 double lone pair(N(piperidine))–π(pyrimidine) interactions were observed. The ligand L and complexes ZnLCl2, CdLCl2, ZnL2Cl2 and CdL2Cl2 were found to display bright blue luminescence. Highest relative intensity of emission was detected for ZnL2Cl2.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Luminescent Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes with a pyrazolylpyrimidine ligand. ► Combination of a lone pair donor and an acceptor within a single molecule. ► Double lone pair–π interactions. ► Effect of metal-to-ligand stoichiometry of the complexes on luminescence.