Ultrasound-induced emission enhancement based on structure-dependent homo- and heterochiral aggregations of chiral binuclear platinum complexes.

Instant and precise control of phosphorescent emission can be performed by ultrasound-induced gelation of organic liquids with chiral, clothespin-shaped trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(II) complexes, anti-1. Nonemissive solutions of racemic, short-linked anti-1a (n = 5) and optically pure, long-linked anti-1c (n = 7) in organic liquids are transformed immediately into stable phosphorescent gels upon brief irradiation of low-power ultrasound. Emission from the gels can be controlled by sonication time, linker length, and optical activity of the complexes. Several experimental results indicated that structure-dependent homo- and heterochiral aggregations and ultrasound-control of the aggregate morphology are key factors for emission enhancement.