Synthesis, structures and spectroscopic properties of new 1,2-bis[2-(4-methyl-7-acetylamino-1,8-naphthyridine)]ethylene ligand and its binuclear copper(I) complexes

The synthesis, characterization, spectroscopic properties of a new ligand 1,2-bis2-(4-methyl-7-acetylamino-1,8-naphthyridine)]ethylene (L) and its two binuclear Cu(I) complexes containing triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) or bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm), Cu₂(L)(PPh₃)₄](BF₄)₂·2CH₂Cl₂ (1·2CH₂Cl₂) and Cu₂(L)(dppm)₂](BF₄)₂·4H₂O (2·4H₂O) are reported. The structural investigation of these compounds based on X-ray crystal analysis shows that the copper(I) centers adopt different coordination geometries, O(N)CuP₂⁺ and NCuP₂⁺ for complexes 1 and 2, respectively. Upon irradiation of a degassed organic solution of L at 365 nm, photoinduced isomerization reaction and an intramolecular proton transfer of ligand L were detailed studied by absorption spectral changes. A spectroscopic investigation involving time-dependent density functional theory calculations allows assignment of the excited states that relate to emission and transient absorption spectra. The observed lower-energy absorption bands appearing in the region of 413 and 418 nm for 1 and 2 in dichloromethane are assigned to ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LLCT, phosphine → napy) transition in nature. Compared with well-structured solid-state emission originating from ππ^∗ transition of ligand L, complexes 1 and 2 exhibit intense room-temperature solid-state emissions with λ_max at 586 and 620 nm, respectively. The energy and the shape of the emission bands are clearly different from that of the ligand, indicating the emissions come from different excited states.