Syntheses, structures, and photoluminescence of a series of d10 coordination complexes from N,N′-bidentate imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid

Four new d10 metal–organic complexes, [Cd(L)(HBTC)(H2O)]n (1), [Cd2Cl(L)2(BTC)(H2O)2]n (2), [Zn(L)(HBTC)(H2O)2]2·2H2O (3) and [Zn(L)(HBTC)(H2O)]n (4) were prepared through hydrothermal reactions of L and H3BTC (L = imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline and H3BTC = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid). These complexes were structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Complexes 1 and 4 are analogous, showing 2D network with the Schläfli symbol of 4.82, which further linked into 3D supramolecular architecture by aromatic π–π interactions. Complex 2 possesses a 1D chain structure. Two neighboring chains of 2 are linked through the π–π interactions into a double chain supramolecular structure. Complex 3 features a dinuclear structure and further forms a 2D layer by π–π interactions. The thermal stabilities and photoluminescent properties of the coordination compounds have also been investigated.