Abstract
Ligand 2-(1-(pyridin-2-yl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-yl)phenol (L) has been reacted in a 2:1 molar ratio with different Zn(Y)(2)nH(2)O salts, where Y represents a polyatomic anion (Y = ClO4-, NO3-, BF4-, PF6-). The X-ray structural analysis performed on two of the derivatives obtained, namely [Zn(L)(2)(ClO4)](ClO4)center dot H2O (1) and [Zn(L)(2)(CH3CN)(2)](BF4)(2) (6), proves that as expected ligand L binds in a N,N-bidentate mode via the pyridine ring (N-py) and the pyridine-like nitrogen of the imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine skeleton (N-im). A spectroscopic investigation (including infrared, elemental analysis, H-1 and P-31 NMR, thermogravimetric analysis) has been performed on these species, allowing complete characterizations. A preliminary survey on their photophysical properties in the solid state was carried out: the complexes showing intense luminescence when excited with UV light (lambda(exc) = 421-469 nm) with lambda(max) of emission in the blue-green range (468-500 nm) and moderate absolute photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs). (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.