Synthesis, characterization and luminescent properties of three-coordinate copper(I) halide complexes containing 2-(diphenylphosphino)biphenyl

Highly emissive three-coordinate copper halide complexes with a bidentate phosphine ligand have attracted attention. Here, a series of three-coordinate mono- and dinuclear copper halide complexes, [CuI(dpbp)2] (1) and [CuX(dpbp)]2 (dpbp = 2-(diphenylphosphino)biphenyl, X = Br (2), Cl (3)), were synthesized, and their molecular structures and photophysical properties were investigated. In the solid state, these complexes exhibit green photoluminescence with microsecond lifetimes (λmax = 515–538 nm; τ = 11.8–19.1 μs) at 298 K. The emission of the complexes originates from the (σ + X) → π* transition. All three complexes displayed good thermal stability.