Synthesis, structure, photochromism, mesogenic property and DFT computations of silver(I) complexes of long chain alkyl group containing 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazoles
摘要:
The complexes [Ag(Raai-C-n,H2n+1)]ClO4 (where Raai-CnH2n+1 refer to 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazoles; R = H, Me and n = 4-22 (even numbers)) have been characterized by spectroscopic studies (UV-Vis, FT-IR, H-1 NMR). The X-ray structure of [Ag(Haai-C22H45)(2)]ClO4 confirms a distorted tetrahedral geometry. UV light irradiation (365-370 nm) of an acetonitrile solution of [Ag(Raai-CnH2n+1)(2)]ClO4 shows E-to-Z (trans-to-cis) isomerization of the coordinated Raai-CnH2n+1 group. The reverse transformation, Z-to-E (cis-to-trans), is very slow upon visible light irradiation, but becomes significantly faster on increasing the temperature (298-313 K). The rates and quantum yields (phi(E -> Z)) of the E-to-Z isomerization of the free ligands are higher than those of the complexes, which have proved the effect of rotor volume, rotor mass and the 1-alkyl chain length (-CnH2n+1)center dot[Ag(Haai-C18H37)(2)]ClO4 shows a metallomesogenic property and undergoes phase transitions: the Cr (46.7 degrees C) - SmC (106.4 degrees C) - I phase sequence on heating and I (106.4 degrees C) - SmA (46.4 degrees C) - Cr on cooling. The SmC phase appears as the typical fan-shaped texture. DFT computations on the optimized structure were carried out to explain the spectral properties. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.