1D-helical platinum(ii) complexes bearing metal-induced chirality, aggregation-induced red phosphorescence, and circularly polarized luminescence.

A series of binuclear cyclometalated Pt(ii) complexes with the bridge ligand of binaphthyl quinoline were synthesized and characterized. Owing to the restriction of intramolecular motions in chiral binaphthyl linkers, the complexes exhibited two unusual metal-induced chiral components and aggregation-induced red phosphorescence. The (R,R,R)/(S,S,S) enantiopure complexes that were confirmed by X-ray diffraction, circular dichroism spectra, time-dependent density functional theory calculations, and circularly polarized luminescence did not require purification by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography and could yield unique 1D M or P hierarchical helices of helices via intermolecular noncovalent interactions. Moreover, it is the first time that racemization-induced phosphorescence enhancement has been observed.