Syntheses, structures and luminescent properties of chain-like Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes of 1,3-phenylenediacetate ligand

Two new complexes [Zn2(pda)2(bpy)2]n·nH2O (1) and [Cd2(pda)(bpy)2Cl2]n (2) (H2pda ¼ 1,3-phenylenediacetic acid, bpy ¼ 2,20- bipyridine) were synthesized and characterized. In 1, five-coordinate Zn(II) ions are extended by pda ligands in the chelate–monodentate mode to form a 1D zigzag chain. In 2, six-coordinate Cd(II) ions are linked by chelate–chelate pda ligands and bridging Cl2 ions to form a similar zigzag chain. Fluorescent analyses show that both 1 and 2 exhibit intense blue photoluminescence in the solid state and may be potential candidates for photoactive material. q 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.