Four imidazolium iodocuprates based on anion–π and π–π interactions: Structural and spectral modulation

•Four imidazolium iodocuprates have been prepared.•Cationic spatial orientation and weak interactions are beneficial to structural diversity and band gap modulation.•Spectroscopic characterization showed semiconducting properties.

Four imidazolium iodocuprates, [(1,3-dimethylimidazole)(Cu2I3)]n (1), [(1,2,3-trimethylimidazole)(Cu2I3)]n (2), [(1,3-dimethylimidazole)(Cu3I5)]n (3) and [(1,3-dimethylbenzimidazole)(CuI2)]n (4) have been solvothermally synthesized and optically characterized. Results exhibit that cationic spatial orientation, anion–π and π–π interactions are beneficial to structural diversity and band gap modulation of iodocuprate hybrids. The UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra show that compounds 1–4 are potential semiconductor materials.

Graphical abstractUsing imidazolium derivates as countercations, four chainlike imidazolium iodocuprates have been synthesized. Because of the changes of substituted groups and relatively flexible spatial effects, the anion–π and π–π interactions play an important role in the structural construction and functional modulation.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide