Simple and Versatile Preparation of Luminescent Amphiphilic Platinum(II)‐containing Polystyrene Complexes With Transformable Nanostructures Assisted by Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt and π–π Interactions

• Published in: Chemistry, an Asian journal Vol. 12; no. 13; pp. 1509 - 1516
• Main Authors: Cheng, Heung‐Kiu, Chung, Clive Yik‐Sham, Zhang, Kaka, Yam, Vivian Wing‐Wah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 04.07.2017
• Subjects: metal–metal interactions; platinum; polymers; self-assembly; supramolecular chemistry; metal-metal interactions; self-assembly; platinum; polymers; supramolecular chemistry
• ISSN: 1861-4728; 1861-471X
• DOI: 10.1002/asia.201700123

Platinum(II)‐containing polystyrene (PS) complexes have been synthesized by dehydrohalogenation of α‐alkyne‐PS and chloroplatinum(II) precursors with different functionalities on the terpyridine ligands. Through modulation of the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the terpyridine ligands and hence the overall amphiphilicity of the complexes, the complexes can undergo self‐assembly into various superstructures with remarkable luminescence properties in different solution mixtures, as revealed by electron microscopy, UV/Vis absorption and emission spectroscopy. Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt and/or π–π interactions among the platinum(II) terpyridine moieties are found to play substantial roles in the stabilization of the superstructures and the turn‐on/off of the triplet metal–metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (3MMLCT) emission of the complexes. Go platinum: A series of platinum(II)‐containing polystyrene complexes has been synthesized and demonstrated to undergo self‐assembly into different superstructures in various solvent mixtures with the stabilization of Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt and/or π–π interactions, resulting in remarkable luminescence changes.