Luminescent Cu(I) Complexes Based on Natural Tobacco Alkaloids

Chiral Cu(I) complexes, [Cu2I2(anabasine)2(PPh3)2] (I), [Cu2I2(nicotine)2(PPh3)2] (II), and [CuCl(anabasine)(PPh3)] (III), were synthesized using tobacco alkaloids: (−)-anabasine and (−)-nicotine. The structures of these compounds were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes I and III are the first structurally characterized coordination compounds based on anabasine. Complexes I and II exhibit intense blue-cyan photoluminescence at room temperature with emission maxima at 485 and 480 nm, a lifetime of 16 μs, and a quantum yield of up to 31%. The results demonstrate the potential of natural alkaloids for the design of photoactive chiral Cu(I) complexes.