Synthesis, crystal structures and blue emission of zinc(II) halide complexes of 1-alkyl-imidazole and (–)-nicotine

Abstract

Abstract Zn(II) halide complexes of the form L2ZnX2 (X=Cl, Br, I) containing bio-relevant or bio-related ligands like 1-alkyl-imidazoles (alkyl=methyl, ethyl and iso-propyl) or (–)-nicotine are presented. All complexes were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of the majority of complexes were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The zinc ion exists in a tetrahedral environment coordinated by two halide anions and two nitrogen atoms of the N-heterocycles. Upon photoexcitation the nicotine complexes feature a blue emission which we tentatively assign to phosphorescence.