A novel trimeric Zn (II) complex based on 8-hydroxyquinoline with trifluoromethylbenzene group: Synthesis, crystal structure, photophysical properties and DNA binding.

A novel 2-substituted-8-hydroxyquinoline ligand ( E )-2-[2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)ethenyl]-8-hydroxyquinoline ( 3 , HL ) was synthesized and characterized by ESI-MS, NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Using solvothermal method, a trimeric complex [Zn 3 L 6 ] ( 4 ) was fabricated by self-assembly of Zn(II) ions with 3 . X-ray structural analysis shows that 4 exhibits a trinuclear core, which was bridged and encapsulated by six 8-hydroxyquinolinate-based ligands. The supramolecular structure of 4 features a lamellar solid constructed by aromatic stacking interactions and nonclassical C–H···F hydrogen bonds derived from 4-trifluoromethylphenyl group of the 3 . The coordination behavior of zinc salt and 3 in solution was performed by 1 H NMR, UV–vis and Photoluminescence (PL). The experimental results show that the complex 4 emits yellow luminescence in the solid state. To investigate its properties further, we also studied the thermal stability, photophysical properties (fluorescent emission, lifetime) of complex 4 , and the interactions between 4 and C 60 or EtBr–DNA system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]