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Organic molecules and some coordination polymers that are responsive to external stimuli (such as light, electrical potential, heat, guest inclusion or pressure) often generate structural isomerization, such as ring-opening/closing, tautomerism and cis-trans isomerization. While for viologen derivatives, generally, electron transfer occurs upon the photoirradiation without a significant structural change. Herein we present a new viologen-based Zn-complex (1) which undergoes single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation to 1G upon crushing. Both 1 and 1G could change to 1Y when stored under air in the dark at ambient for one week. The colorless crystal 1 undergoes a two-step color change to pink (1P) and brown (1Z) upon irradiation with UV for 40 s and 15 min, respectively. More importantly, the complex 1G also has a two-step coloring phenomenon under UV light. The colorless crystals of 1G change into blue (1Q) after irradiation for 15 s and finally become brown (1Z′) with the increase of irradiation time. While 1Y only undergoes one coloration from colorless to cyan 1Y′ after UV irradiation. The possible pathways for electron transfer were confirmed to be through intermolecular hydrogen bonding according to the results of crystal structure and the photochromic behavior of the ground samples. 1Z and 1Z′ could change color to yellow 1H and 1H′ in the dark, respectively. Only the changes between 1 and 1P , 1Z and 1H , 1G and 1Q , 1Z′ and 1H′ , 1Y and 1Y′ are reversible, which implies that the crystal structures varied upon photoirradiation because 1Z and 1Z' can revert to neither the original crystals 1 and 1G , nor the intermediate 1P and 1Q. These findings help to understand multiple photochromism and variations of crystal structures under different external stimuli via SCSC transformations. In addition, complex 1 shows high selectivity for primary aromatic amine aniline among various amines. [Display omitted] • Complex 1 undergoes a single-crystal to single-crystal transformation to 1G upon crush with structure change. • Both 1 and 1G could undergo a two-step coloring phenomenon under UV light. • 1 and 1G change to 1Y when stored in the dark for one week. • Complex 1 shows high sensitivity to aniline. • The pathways for electron transfer of the two-step were discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we successfully synthesized two Schiff base (HL) complexes, ZnLCl 2 (1) and [Cd 2 L 2 Cl 4 ]·CH 3 CN (2), via the one-pot reaction of metal salts with 4-[bis(4-bromophenyl)amino]benzaldehyde and 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid hydrazide. Complex 2 exhibits not only acidochromic properties but also NH 3 -induced discoloration behavior, which is rarely reported among triphenylamine derivatives or complexes. However, complex 1 shows no color change upon fuming with HCl or NH 3 vapor. The experimental results show that acidochromism may be due to the decomposition of the structure by HCl vapor, while NH 3 -induced discoloration is mainly attributed to the phase change of 2 from crystalline to amorphous state. In addition, complexes 1 and 2 showed high-contrast mechanochromic luminescence (MCL) change from yellow to orange and green to yellow, respectively. Complexes 1 and 2 also exhibit electrochromic behavior with color change from yellow to brown. Moreover, complex 2 was successfully made into test paper for mechanical stimuli and the rapid detection of HCl and NH 3 vapor. The complex 2 can be fixed on a mask coat to fabricate a 2 -based wearable hazardous gas sensor, suggesting that 2 is expected to develop into the next generation wearable sensors for detection of HCl and NH 3 vapor. [Display omitted] • Complexes 1 and 2 showed reversible mechanochromic luminescence behavior. • 2 exhibits acidochromic properties and NH 3 -induced discoloration behavior. • Complexes 1 and 2 also exhibit electrochromic behavior. • 2 can be made into test paper for repeated writing and HCl/NH 3 vapor detecting. • 2 can be made wearable sensor for detection of HCl and NH 3 vapor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, photoactive viologen units have been widely encapsulated in metal-organic frameworks and assembled into multifunctional materials with photochromism and other light regulating properties. A novel host-guest MOF material, {[Zn(bcbpy) 0.5 (IPA)]·CH 3 CN} n (1), has been constructed by a viologen ligand 1,1′-bis((3-carboxylatobenzyl)-4,4′-bipyridinium)-dichloride (H 2 bcbpy·2Cl), isophthalic acid (IPA) and zinc(II) chloride. Complex 1 exhibits UV and X-ray dual photochromism and photo-controlled luminescence properties. Complex 1 also exhibits a temperature-dependent phosphorescence from cyan to yellow when the temperature increases from 77 to 297 K. 1T will be obtained when 1 is heated in air at 230 °C for 30 min, 1T shows less sensitive photochromic property than 1 due to its longer C–H⋯O hydrogen bond distance for electron transfer pathway. In addition, complex 1 has the potential application as an inkless and erasable printing material due to the excellent photochromic property. [Display omitted] • A UV and X-ray dual photochromic complex 1 was synthesized and characterized. • Complex 1 exhibits photo-controlled luminescence properties. • Complex 1 exhibits temperature-dependent phosphorescence properties. • Complex 1 has the potential to be used as an inkless and erasable printing material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]