Anion-cation charge-transfer properties and spectral studies of [M(phen)3][Cd4(SPh)10] (M = Ru, Fe, and Ni)

Three anion-cation compounds 1-3 with formula [M(phen)(3)][Cd-4(SPh)(10)]center dot Sol (M = Ru2+, Fe2+, and Ni2+, Sol = MeCN and H2O) have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal analysis. Both the cations and anion are well-known ions, but the properties of the co-assembled compounds are interesting. Molecular structures and charge-transfer between the cations and anions in crystal and even in solution are discussed. These compounds are isomorphous and short inter-ion interactions are found in these crystals, such as pi center dot center dot center dot pi stacking and C-H center dot center dot center dot pi contacts. Both spectroscopic and theoretical calculated results indicate that there is anion-cation charge-transfer (ACCT) between the Ru-phen complex dye and the Cd-SPh cluster, which plays an important role in their photophysical properties. The intensity of the fluorescent emission of the [Ru(phen)(3)](2+) is enhanced when the cation interacts with the [Cd-4(SPh)(10)](2-) anion. The mechanism for the enhancement of photoluminescence has been proposed.