Chemistry - A European Journal
Chemistry - A European Journal
5 years ago

AuI⋅⋅⋅AuI Interaction Assisted Host–Guest Interactions and Stimuli-Responsive Self-Assembly in Tetranuclear Alkynylgold(I) Calix[4]arene-Based Isocyanide Complexes

AuI⋅⋅⋅AuI Interaction Assisted Host–Guest Interactions and Stimuli-Responsive Self-Assembly in Tetranuclear Alkynylgold(I) Calix[4]arene-Based Isocyanide Complexes
Franky Ka-Wah Hau, Vivian Wing-Wah Yam, Anlea Chu
Multi-stimuli-responsive tetranuclear gold(I) complexes were prepared based on a tetra(alkynyl)calix[4]arene framework, with incorporation of a series of isocyanide ligands of tunable hydrophilicity. This class of complex was found to exhibit high sensitivity towards group IIIA metal ions especially In3+. Drastic electronic absorption and emission changes were observed, which could be attributed to the formation of AuI⋅⋅⋅AuI interactions during the binding event. Solvent-induced self-aggregation was also observed upon changing the solvent environment to a more polar medium, with the formation of nanoaggregates and the turning-on of the aurophilic interactions, leading to interesting luminescence and morphological changes. The aggregation process was monitored by UV/Vis absorption, emission and 1H NMR spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies, and the morphological changes were studied by electron microscopy. This new class of complex has shown high sensitivity towards external stimuli and demonstrated the feasibility of employing the on–off switching of aurophilicity as an effective design strategy for the construction of functional supramolecular systems. By the love of gold: Multi-stimuli-responsive tetranuclear gold(I) complexes based on a tetra(alkynyl)calix[4]arene framework demonstrate high selectivity towards binding of In3+ ions with turning-on of AuI⋅⋅⋅AuI interactions. Modulation of aurophilic interactions could also be achieved through solvent-induced self-aggregation with interesting luminescence and morphological changes.

Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi

DOI: 10.1002/chem.201701631

You might also like
Discover & Discuss Important Research

Keeping up-to-date with research can feel impossible, with papers being published faster than you'll ever be able to read them. That's where Researcher comes in: we're simplifying discovery and making important discussions happen. With over 19,000 sources, including peer-reviewed journals, preprints, blogs, universities, podcasts and Live events across 10 research areas, you'll never miss what's important to you. It's like social media, but better. Oh, and we should mention - it's free.

  • Download from Google Play
  • Download from App Store
  • Download from AppInChina

Researcher displays publicly available abstracts and doesn’t host any full article content. If the content is open access, we will direct clicks from the abstracts to the publisher website and display the PDF copy on our platform. Clicks to view the full text will be directed to the publisher website, where only users with subscriptions or access through their institution are able to view the full article.