Cunning defects: emission control by structural point defects on Cu(i)I double chain coordination polymers

The direct reaction between CuI and 3,5-dichloropyridine, in acetonitrile at room temperature, gives rise to [Cu(Cl2-py)I]n (Cl2-py = 3,5-dichloropyridine), which consists of a Cu(I)–I double chain based coordination polymer (CP) grafted with 3,5-dichloropyridine. In this simple one-pot process, the modulation of the reaction conditions, i.e. slight variations in the CuI and Cl2-py ratio caused by in situ disproportion, can, however, produce significant changes in the physical properties of the materials. For instance, the reaction carried out in a 1 : 1 ratio under ambient conditions leads to compound 1, while compound 1′ is obtained upon a solvothermal process of stoichiometric reaction mixture, Cl2-py and CuI, which produces partial disproportion (