Two naphthoate-based lead(II) complexes with different limited-nuclear motifs: Syntheses, crystal structures, and fluorescent properties

Abstract

Two new naphthoate-based lead(II) complexes, [Pb(NA)₂(2,2’-Bipy)] (I) and [Pb₂(NA)₄(4,4’- Bipy)] (II) (NA–= 1-naphthoate, 2,2’-Bipy = 2,2’-bipyridine, and 4,4’-Bipy = 4,4’-bipyridine) (CIF files CCDC nos. 664900 (I), 664899 (II)) have been hydrothermally synthesized by varying the N-heterocyclic coligands. Structural analyses reveal that the two complexes possess different limited-nuclear motifs, the former one owns mononuclear unit and the last complex exhibits centrosymmetric binuclear motif bridged by 4,4’-Bipy connector. The coordination numbers of Pb(II) metal centers in I and II are four and five, respectively. The NA^– anions in both complexes show the same binding modes, it is obvious that the bipyridyl coligands in the present mixed-ligands system are responsible for the dissociation or dimerization of mononuclear structural units and the binding numbers of the metal ion. In both complexes, the 6s lone pair of electrons of Pb²⁺ has a stereochemistry activity resulting the distribution of the Pb–O and Pb–N bonds in a hemisphere. Furthermore, both of the two compounds are linked to 2D network by intermolecular C–H···O hydrogen bonding and π···π stacking interactions, exhibiting strong fluorescent emissions resulting from the NA^‒-based intraligand charge transfer at room temperature, which can be hopefully used as fluorescent materials.