Aggregated coordination polymers of Ag+ with a cysteine derivative ligand containing an AIEgen

We investigated coordination polymers of Ag+ with a cysteine-based thiol ligand designed to contain a tetraphenylethylene AIEgen (l- and d-1). The coordination polymers, forming in a variety of protic and aprotic organic solvents, such as THF, CH3CN and CH3OH, were shown to undergo aggregation in H2O/THF binary solvents at water volume fractions above 50%, where emission was substantially enhanced while the CD profile was reversed, yet the dependence of the CD signal on ee remained S-shaped for the polymers in the aprotic organic solvents THF and CH3CN, in contrast to that in protic solvents CH3OH and C2H5OH.

Automated summary

In this study, coordination polymers of Ag+ with a cysteine-based thiol ligand containing a tetraphenylethylene AIEgen were investigated. The coordination polymers formed in a variety of protic and aprotic organic solvents, and when the water volume fraction in the H2O/THF binary solvents exceeded 50%, the polymers underwent aggregation, resulting in enhanced emission but reversed CD profile. The dependence of the CD signal on ee remained S-shaped for the polymers in THF and CH3CN, in contrast to that in CH3OH and C2H5OH.