Luminescent properties, internal hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions of Cd(II), Zn(II), Co(II) complexes based on 2,8-di(pyridin-4-yl)dibenzothiophene and dicarboxylate ligands

•Two kinds of binuclear cadmium cluster units in complex 1.•Luminescent properties mostly attributed to the charge transfer of internal DPDBT ligand.•0D, 1D, 2D → 3D architectures with hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions.

Based on a V-shaped N-containing ligand [2,8-di(pyridin-4-yl)dibenzothiophene, DPDBT], three new coordination polymers with different dimensionality, namely, {[Cd2(DPDBT)2(DCPS)2(H2O)](H2O)}n (1), {[Zn(DPDBT)2(5-OH-bdc)]}n (2) and {[Co(DPDBT)2(H2O)4](hfipbb)}n (3), [H2DCPS = 4,4′-dicarboxydiphenyl sulfone, 5-OH-H2bdc = 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid, H2hfipbb = 4,4′-(Hexafluoroisopropylidene)bis(benzoic acid)], have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Complex 1 exhibits a 2D structure with two different kinds of binuclear cadmium cluster units. The formation from 0D, 1D, 2D → 3D structures with hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions in 1–3 were investigated in details. In addition, luminescent properties of 1, 2 and related free ligands in the solid state have also been studied.

Graphical abstractThree luminescent coordination polymers, featuring 0D, 1D, 2D → 3D architectures with hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions, were investigated based on 2,8-di(pyridin-4-yl)dibenzothiophene and dicarboxylate ligands.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide