Suite of Organoplatinum(II) Triangular Metallaprism: Aggregation-Induced Emission and Coordination Sequence Induced Emission Tuning

A series of triangular metallaprisms with a kinetically inert Pt-N bond have been synthesized from the stepwise assembly of a Pt-corner, linear linker 4,4′-bipy (4,4′-bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine) and triangular ligand [tpb or tpt, tpb = tris(4-pyridyl)benzene, tpt = tris(4-pyridyl)triazine]. The use of an unsymmetrical [Pt(HL)]-corner (H₂L = 2,6-diphenylpyridine) leads to novel isostructural products. Phenyl rotation at the metal-corners endows these complexes with good aggregation-induced emission (AIE) function, with varied activities across the isostructural complexes. The coordination sequence of electron-deficient ligand tpt also imparts significant influence on the complex emission. These organoplatinum triangular metallaprisms thus provide a good model to study the influence of building blocks and coordination sequence on the luminescence of supramolecules.