Pyridylphosphine supported Ag(i) and Cu(i) complexes for detection of alcohols and nitriles via structural transformations from 1D to 0D

A series of coordination complexes, [Ag2(PPh2Py)2(MeCN)4](ClO4)2·MeCN (1), [Ag2(PPh2Py)2(ClO4)2]n·2(CH2Cl2)n (2), [Cu2(PPh2Py)2(MeCN)2](ClO4)2 (3) and [Cu2(PPh2Py)2(ClO4)2]n (4), were synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. In the crystal structures, 2 and 4 form one-dimensional coordination polymers with perchlorate ions in the presence of bridging ligands. They exhibit strong luminescence in the crystalline state but are dramatically quenched when exposed to alcohol or nitrile vapors. 1 and 3 are non-emissive 0-dimensional complexes with coordinating acetonitrile solvent molecules. The structures of 1 and 3 reveal that alcohol or nitrile vapors could replace the bridging perchlorate ions in 2 and 4 so as to occupy the metal coordination sites. This structural transformation from 1D to 0D makes 2 and 4 promising candidate materials for the detection of alcohols and nitriles.