Crystal solvates of zinc^(II) bis(dipyrrinates) with triethylamine: Composition, stability and spectral-luminescent properties

Abstract Crystal solvates of 2,2′-, 2,3′- and 3,3′-bis(dipyrrinato)zinc(II) with triethylamine (TEA) were obtained by slow crystallization. Composition, structural organization, stability, and spectral-luminescent properties of the crystal solvates were studied by FTIR, Powder X-ray Diffraction, thermal, mass spectral, absorption and fluorescence analyses. The thermal dissociation processes of crystal solvates in an argon atmosphere have been investigated. It is shown that zinc(II) helicates with decamethylsubstituted 2,2′-, 2,3′-, and 3,3′-bis(dipyrrin)s with TEA form stable supramolecular complexes of the composition [Zn2L2(TEA)4] and [Zn2L2TEA]. Spectroscopic studies showed that the quantum yield (φ) of [Zn2L2(TEA)n] crystal solvates in cyclohexane is noticeably (3–4.5 times) lower than φ of [Zn2L2] complexes. Quantum chemical study indicated the most likely mechanism for the coordination of solvent molecules on the coordinating centers of [Zn2L2]. Thermal and energy stability of [Zn2L2(TEA)n] solvates reduced when replacing the 2,2′- on 2,3′-, and 3,3′-isomer. The obtained results are of interest for the development of [Zn2L2] fluorescent sensors of the electron donor molecules.