Synthesis, Characterisation and Photophysical Study of Alkynylrhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Diimine Complexes and Their Metal-Ion Coordination-Assisted Metallogelation Properties

A series of alkynylrhenium(I) tricarbonyl diimine complexes has been synthesized and characterized. A blue shift of the intense low-energy MLCT absorption band in the visible region was observed upon coordination of Cu-I or Ag-I. This class of complexes has been found to show rich thermotropic gelation behaviour upon Cu-I or Ag-I coordination with their morphology characterized by SEM. Their variable-temperature UV/Vis absorption and emission properties have also been studied. A blue shift in the MLCT absorption band and the switching on of luminescence were observed upon sol-gel transition.