Photoluminescences and 3D supramolecular structure with unique dimeric Zn (II) units featuring 2-substituted 8-hydroxyquinoline

A 2-substituted-8-hydroxyquinoline ligand (E)-2-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethenyl]-8-hydroxyquinoline (HL) was synthesized and characterized by ESI-MS, NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Using solvothermal method, a dimeric complex [Zn2Cl2L2]·2DMF (1) was fabricated by self-assembly of Zn(II) ions with ligand HL, and characterized with single-crystal X-ray diffractions, powder X-ray diffractions (PXRD), thermal analyses (TGA) and elemental analyses (EA). Complex 1 features a lamellar solid constructed by aromatic stacking interactions and nonclassical Csingle bondH…O hydrogen bonds. To further investigate the property of the above complex, the photoluminescent properties of 1 are also discussed.