Self-Assembly of an Organic Chromophore with Cd−S Nanoclusters: Supramolecular Structures and Enhanced Emissions

By combination of the large organic cation [trans-4-(4-dimethylanilino-styryl)-N-methyl-pyridinium with nanocluster anions ([Cd4(SC6H5)10]2- for compound 1 and [Cd4(SC6H5)6I4]2- for compound 2), two new hybrids were obtained and the structure of the [Cd4(SC6H5)6I4]2- cluster was first characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. A novel supramolecular dimer {[Cd4(SC6H5)10]2-}2, connected via strong π−π interactions, was observed in 1, whereas every two [Cd4(SC6H5)6I4]2- clusters in 2 were linked by multiple C−H···I hydrogen bonds forming dimers, which, as building blocks, were further connected to each other via C−H···I hydrogen bonds and weak I···I interactions to form novel 1D helical chains. The UV−visible−near-IR spectra, one-photon excited photoluminescence, and two-photon pumped lasing were measured. The organic chromophore exhibits enhanced PL and two-photon pumped lasing in the two hybrids.