Self-assembling-directed Growth and PL Evolution of a Soluble Gold Thiolate Coordination Polymer

Herein we report the synthesis of Au(I) thiolate coordination polymers with PEGylated side chains in water, highlighting significant effects of the alkyl spacer to promote the size growth and PL evolution associated with the aurophilic interactions. Such a behavior was specifically observed when a sufficiently long alkyl spacer is implanted, indicating critical roles of the self-organization of the alkyl segments.