The systematic analysis of the luminescence of a series of alkynyl gold derivatives with general formulas [(diphos)(AuC≡Cpy)(2)] (diphosphane =2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane or dppip (1), bis(diphenylphosphanyl)acetylene or dppa (2), 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ethane or dppe (3) and 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)butane or dppb, (4), has shown a straightforward correlation between the Au(I)···Au(I) distance and the emission quantum yields and decaytimes. The analysis of the decaytimes, quantum yields and thus, the corresponding calculated rate constants demonstrated the existence of a correlation between Au(I)···Au(I) distance and the radiative rate constant for the deactivation of the emissive triplet states. It was concluded that the increased emission of these compounds results from the increase in spin-orbit coupling that favors the spin forbidden transition to the singlet ground state.

(CϵCC 5 (5), 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane (6), 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)butane (7), 1,1Ј-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ferrocene (8)

The new fluorinated rigid ligand L, 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)tetrafluorobenzene, was used in combination with different diphosphine Pd(II) and Pt(II) triflates to build metallosupramolecular assemblies. Complex equilibria between triangular and square entities were detected for all the cases. Characterization of the equilibria was accomplished by 1H, 31P(1H), 19F, and 195Pt(1H) NMR in combination with mass spectrometry. The square/triangle ratio was seen to depend on several factors, such as the nature of the metal corners, the concentration, and the solvent. The relative stability of the square and triangular complexes was explored by using force field methods. A GIAO-DFT study was carried out to analyze the changes of the 31P and 1H NMR data with the geometry of the complexes.

The reaction of the gold polymers containing bipyridyl and terpyridyl units, [Au(C≡CCHN)] and [Au(C≡CCHN)], with the water-soluble phosphines 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.13.7]decane and 3,7-diacetyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane gives rise to the formation of four gold(I) alkynyl complexes that self-assemble in water (HO) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), through different intermolecular interactions, with an impact on the observed luminescence displayed by the supramolecular assemblies. A detailed analysis carried out by NMR studies performed in different DMSO/deuterated HO mixtures indicates the presence of two different assembly modes in the aggregates: (i) chain assemblies, which are based mainly on aurophilic interactions, and (ii) stacked assemblies, which are based on Au···π and π···π interactions. These different supramolecular environments can also be detected by their intrinsic optical properties (differences in absorption and emission spectra) and are predicted by the changes in the relative binding energy from density functional theory calculations carried out in DMSO and HO. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments performed in the same mixture of solvents are in agreement with the formation of aggregates in all cases. The aromatic units chosen, bipyridine and terpyridine, allow the use of external stimuli to reversibly change the aggregation state of the supramolecular assemblies. Interaction with the Zn cation is observed to disassemble the aggregates, while encapsulating agents competing for Zn complexation revert the process to the aggregation stage, as verified by SAXS and NMR. The adaptive nature of the supramolecular assemblies to the metal-ion content is accompanied by significant changes in the absorption and emission spectra, signaling the aggregation state and also the content on Zn.