Ionic crystals of {[Ni(phen)3]2Ge4S10}·xSol, showing solid-state solvatochromism and rapid solvent-induced recrystallization.
Thiogermanates, {[Ni(phen)(3)](2)Ge(4)S(10)}·xSol (Sol = 4MeOH·12H(2)O (1) and 24H(2)O (2)) were prepared and characterized by single-crystal structure analysis. There are large quantities of the solvent molecules that cocrystallize with the anions and cations and form a strong hydrogen bonding network (O-H···S and O···H-O-H···O). Reversible yellow-pink color change with fast speed was found for these compounds, when the crystals were immersed in alcohol solvents and water alternately. The time of the solvent-induced color change relates to the molecular size and structure of the alcohols. The smaller the molecule is, the faster the color change will be. The fastest color change was found by using the methanol solvent that took only about one second. The color change also relates to the ratio of water/alcohol. The solvatochromism phenomenon is accompanied with a rapid solvent-induced recrystallization that is verified by the XRD patterns.
Department of Chemistry & Key Laboratory of Organic Synthesis of Jiangsu Province, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
Wen-Qin
WQ
Mu
Qin-Yu
QY
Zhu
Li-Sheng
LS
You
Xu
X
Zhang
Wen
W
Luo
Guo-Qing
GQ
Bian
Jie
J
Dai