Synthesis of alkynylgold(III) complexes with bis-cyclometalating ligand derived from ethyl 2,6-diphenylisonicotinate and their structural, electrochemical, photo- and electroluminescence studies

A series of alkynylgold(III) complexes with bis-cyclometalating ligand derived from ethyl 2,6-diphenylisonicotinate has been synthesized. The single crystal structure of one of the complexes revealed an unprecedentedly short Au(III)...Au(III) distance of 3.44 Å. These complexes were found to exhibit rich electrochemistry. Upon photoexcitation, the alkynylgold(III) complexes were found to show rich emission properties in various states at both ambient and low temperatures. One of the complexes have also been utilized as the light-emitting layer in the fabrication of organic light-emitting diodes, demonstrating the potentials and versatility of alkynylgold(III) complexes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.