Photoluminescence properties of a cationic trinuclear zinc(II) complex with the tetradentate Schiff base ligand 6-methyl-2-({[(pyridin-2-yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolate
Metal complexes with Schiff base ligands have been suggested as potential phosphors in electroluminescent devices. In the title complex, tetrakis[6-methyl-2-({[(pyridin-2-yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolato-1:2κ8N,N′,O:O;3:2κ8N,N′,O:O]trizinc(II) hexafluoridophosphate methanol monosolvate, [Zn3(C14H13N2O)4](PF6)2·CH3OH, the ZnIIcations adopt both six- and four-coordinate geometries involving the N and O atoms of tetradentate 6-methyl-2-({[(pyridin-2-yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolate ligands. Two terminal ZnIIcations adopt distorted octahedral geometries and the central ZnIIcation adopts a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The O atoms of the phenolate ligands bridge three ZnIIcations, forming a dicationic trinuclear metal cluster. The title complex exhibits a strong emission at 469 nm with a quantum yield of 15.5%.