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

The synthesis of argentivorous molecules (L1 and L2 ) 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 L1 and L2 revealed that the observed fluorescence changes stem from the excimer formation and extinction of fluorescent. Furthermore, binding stabilities of L1 and L2 toward Ag+ ions were estimated by the Ag+-induced UV–vis and PL spectral changes.