Structural, energetic and spectroscopic studies of new luminescent complexes based on 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and 1,2-phenylenediboronic acid

Abstract

Three new blue-luminescent complexes of selected imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives and 1,2-phenylenediboronic acid have been synthesized and structurally characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Additionally, the crystal structures of two of the (N,O)-donor compounds have been evaluated for the first time. The crystal packing and molecular motifs observed in the studied crystals have been thoroughly analysed, including computational studies, and are also discussed within the context of analogous systems reported in the literature. It appears that the new compounds form different crystal networks with regard to the asymmetric unit content and packing, although some similarities can be found. In all cases a typical centrosymmetric dimer bound via boronic acid groups is formed, characterized by an interaction energy of about −80 kJ mol−1, while the 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine complex and its methoxy derivative form solvate structures, somewhat resembling the previously studied 8-oxyquinolinate analogues. As far as the spectroscopic properties are concerned, the lowest energy excitation observed in the studied complexes is based on the highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital transition, and both these molecular orbitals are centred predominantly on the (N,O)-donor species according to the results of time-dependent density functional theory. Thus, the charge transfer observed for the 8-oxyquinolinate equivalents does not occur in these cases. Consequently, the spectroscopic behaviour of the series is very much comparable with that of the parent imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives, if the excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer process does not take place, as shown by the absorption and emission spectra collected in toluene and acetone solutions. Complexation causes a reduction in the Stokes shift compared with the respective (N,O)-donor molecules.