Argentivorous Molecules with Chromophores in Side Arms: Silver Ion-Induced Turn On and Turn Off of Fluorescence

The synthesis of argentivorous molecules ( L 1 and L 2 ) having two chromophores (4-(anthracen-9-yl)benzyl or 4-(pyren-1-yl)benzyl groups) and two benzyl groups and the fluorescence properties of their silver complexes in a solution and the solid state are reported. A crystallographic approach for the Ag + complexes with L 1 and L 2 revealed that the observed fluorescence changes stem from the excimer formation and extinction of fluorescent. Furthermore, binding stabilities of L 1 and L 2 toward Ag + ions were estimated by the Ag + -induced UV–vis and PL spectral changes.