Anthony Yiu-Yan Tam

Luminescent metallogels of platinum(II) terpyridyl complexes: interplay of metal⋯metal, π–π and hydrophobic–hydrophobic interactions on gel formation

A series of platinum(II) terpyridyl complexes has been demonstrated to show gelation properties driven by Pt...Pt and pi-pi interactions in addition to hydrophobic-hydrophobic interactions; counter-anions have been found to affect strongly the colour of the metallogel.

Supramolecular self-assembly of amphiphilic anionic platinum(II) complexes: A correlation between spectroscopic and morphological properties

A new class of amphiphilic anionic platinum(II) bzimpy complexes has been demonstrated to show aggregation in water through Pt···Pt and π-π stacking interactions. An interesting aggregation-partial deaggregation-aggregation process and a morphological transformation from vesicles to nanofibers have been demonstrated. These changes can be systematically controlled by the variation of solvent composition and could readily be probed by UV-vis absorption, emission, NMR, transmission electron microscopy, and even with our naked eyes.

A luminescent cyclometalated platinum(II) complex and its green organic light emitting device with high device performance

A luminescent cyclometalated platinum(II) complex has been demonstrated to show green electrophosphorescence in multilayer organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) using a dual emissive layer with high current and external quantum efficiencies of 38.9 cd A(-1) and 11.5%, respectively.

Single-turn helix-coil strands stabilized by metal ⋯metal and π-π Interactions of the alkynylplatinum(II) terpyridyl moieties in meta -phenylene ethynylene foldamers

Dinuclear alkynylplatinum(II) terpyridyl complexes with oligomeric bridge consisting of five repeating meta-phenylene ethynylene (mPE) units have been found to exhibit a strong tendency to fold back onto themselves to form short helical strands through the stabilization of Pt···Pt and π-π interactions. The steric bulk of the terpyridine ligands and the length of the oligomeric bridge have been found to affect the extent of the intramolecular Pt···Pt interaction that governs the stabilization of the short helical strand in solution. Their folding properties via Pt···Pt and π-π stacking interactions have been studied by (1)H NMR, 2D ROESY NMR, electronic absorption, and emission spectroscopies.

Influence of Counteranion on the Chiral Supramolecular Assembly of Alkynylplatinum(II) Terpyridyl Metallogels That Are Stabilised by Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt and π–π Interactions

Helical superstructures: A series of luminescent chiral alkynylplatinum(II)-terpyridyl complexes has been successfully synthesised and shown to be capable of forming metallogels that show helical fibrous nanostructures. The chiral supramolecular structure and the spectroscopic properties are found to depend on the extent of aggregation through Pt...Pt and pi-pi interactions in various counteranions, as revealed by UV/Vis, circular dichroism (CD), and luminescence studies (see picture).

Fluorescence enhancement of coordination polymeric gel

Instant hydrogelation of coumarin-derivatized glycine has been demonstrated in the absence of long-chain hydrophobic groups upon formation of a zinc(ii) coordination polymer, which exhibits fluorescence enhancement upon gelation.

Synthesis, Characterization, and the Photochromic, Luminescence, Metallogelation and Liquid‐Crystalline Properties of Multifunctional Platinum(II) Bipyridine Complexes

A series of multifunctional platinum(II) bipyridine complexes were designed, synthesized, and characterized by (1)H NMR, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS), and elemental analysis. Their electrochemical and photophysical properties were investigated. The photochromic properties of the spironaphthoxazine-containing complexes were also studied. Some of these complexes were shown to be capable of forming stable thermoreversible metallogels in organic solvents. In contrast to typical thermotropic organogels and metallogels, one of the complexes could form metallogels in dodecane and is very stable towards external stimuli. The photochromic activation parameters for the bleaching reaction of a representative spironaphthoxazine-containing complex in a dodecane gel were determined through kinetic studies at various temperatures. Lamellar liquid-crystalline behavior was also observed in one of the complexes, and the liquid-crystalline properties were studied by thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), variable-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD), and variable-temperature infrared (IR) spectroscopy.

A platinum(II) terpyridine metallogel with an L-valine-modified alkynyl ligand: interplay of Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt, π-π and hydrogen-bonding interactions.

A series of platinum(II) terpyridine complexes with L-valine-modified alkynyl ligands has been synthesized. A complex with an unsubstituted terpyridine and one valine unit on the alkynyl is shown to be capable of gel formation, which is in sharp contrast to the gelation properties of the corresponding organic counterparts. Upon sol-gel transition, a drastic color change from yellow to red is observed, which is indicative of the involvement of Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt interactions. Through the concentration- and temperature-dependent UV/Vis absorption, emission, circular dichroism, and (1) H NMR studies, the contribution of hydrogen bonding, Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt and π-π stacking interactions as driving forces for gelation have been established, and the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between different intermolecular forces has also been illustrated.

Transformable Nanostructures of Platinum-Containing Organosilane Hybrids: Non-covalent Self-Assembly of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes Assisted by Pt···Pt and π–π Stacking Interactions of Alkynylplatinum(II) Terpyridine Moieties

An alkynylplatinum(II) terpyridine complex functionalized with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) moieties has been demonstrated to exhibit self-association behavior to give various distinguishable nanostructures with interesting morphological transformation from rings to rods in response to solvent conditions through the stabilization of Pt···Pt and π-π stacking interactions as well as hydrophobic-hydrophobic interactions. These changes can be systemically controlled by varying the solvent composition and have been studied by (1)H NMR, electron microscopy, UV-vis absorption, and emission spectroscopies.

Synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of Bodipy-spirooxazine and -spiropyran conjugates: modulation of fluorescence resonance energy transfer behavior via acidochromic and photochromic switching.

Two series of Bodipy-containing photochromic spirooxazine and spiropyran derivatives have been designed, synthesized and characterized by (1)H NMR, ESI mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. Their electrochemical and photochromic properties were investigated. The photophysical, ultrafast transient absorption, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) properties from Bodipy (donor) to the ring-opened merocyanine (acceptor) were also studied. Upon photoexcitation, all the photochromic spirooxazine- and spiropyran-containing compounds exhibited reversible photochromism. Computational studies have been performed to provide further insights into the nature of the electronic transitions for the two classes of compounds. The rate constants and activation parameters for thermal bleaching reactions of compounds SO, SP-alkyne, 1-3, and 8-10 were determined through kinetic studies in acetonitrile. The thermal bleaching reaction rate of the spiropyran-containing compounds is found to be much slower than that of the spirooxazine-containing counterparts.