Self-Assembly and Mechanochromism Behavior of Gold(I) Supramolecular Cluster

Aurophilicity interaction has played a crucial role in the controllable selfassembly of polynuclear clusters with high nuclear structures and tunable photoluminescence properties. We proposed a multi-component synergistic self-assembly strategy for the controlled synthesis of a hexadeca-nuclei gold(I) supramolecular cluster through spontaneous ligand substitution and conformation rearrangement driven by Au-I...Au-I bonding interactions. In supramolecular cluster 1(2+)center dot 2BF(4)(-), multi-components could be highly accurately aggregated together when thiolate-chloride/phosphine coordination exchange reactivity is partially activated by changing the stoichiometric ratio between digold(I) corners, dppmAu(2)Cl(2), and ditopic linkers, trithiocyanuric salt. Mass spectra confirmed the stepwise self-assembly mechanism in solution, which was also supported by crystallographic data. Supramolecular cluster 1(2+)center dot 2BF(4)(-) displayed intense emission properties either in the solid state or in solution. Moreover, cluster 1(2+)center dot 2BF(4)(-) exhibited a reversible mechanochromic luminescence behavior in the crystalline state and aggregation-caused blue-shifted emission in solution. Hence, emissive gold(I) cluster with strong aurophilicity interactions has great potential value in the fluorescence imaging for 3D printing hydrogels.