Synthesis and photophysical properties of two pairs of homochiral Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes constructed from chiral bissalicylaldehyde derivatives

Two chiral bissalicylaldehyde derivatives were synthesized and structurally characterized. Two pairs of homochiral complexes, namely, [Cu(LR)2–]n (1a), [Cu(LS)2–]n (1b), [Zn2(LR)2–Cl2]‧DMF (2a), and [Zn2(LS)2–Cl2]‧DMF (2b), were synthesized from these two dialdehydes with Cu(II) or Zn(II) ions. 1a and 1b exist as 1D zig-zag chain polymers, while 2a and 2b exist as dinuclear complexes, indicating that the counter Cl– anions play important roles in the resulting assembled structures. Furthermore, the photophysical properties of H2LR/H2LS and the complexes as well as the thermal stability of the complexes were investigated.