Re(I) derivatives functionalized with thioether crowns containing the 1,10-phenanthroline subunit as a new class of chemosensors

A series of luminescent fac-[Re(CO)3(L)(NN)]+ complexes, where L is a pyridine or an imidazole and NN is the 1,10-phenanthroline subunit of mixed donor pentadentate thioether crowns have been synthesised and their luminescence properties have been analysed. Then, heterometallic Re(I)/Au(I) complexes, with the Au(I) fragment bonded directly to the imidazole ligand, and heterometallic Re(I)/Ag(I) complexes, with the silver fragment coordinating the S-donor thioether linker of the rings have also been prepared. Analysis of their luminescence properties showed a considerable blue shift of the emission maxima for the Re(I)/Ag(I) derivatives, upon coordination of the silver centre to the S-donor atoms of the aliphatic chain of the macrocyclic units.