Luminescent mechanochromism of a chiral complex: distinct crystal structures and color changes of racemic and homochiral gold(i) isocyanide complexes with a binaphthyl moiety.

Luminescent mechanochromism of a chiral gold(i) complex is investigated. The racemic and homochiral forms of the gold(i) complex possess distinct crystal packing arrangements with different emission colors. Upon mechanical stimulation, both crystals transform into amorphous powders that exhibit similar emission colors.