New study on the luminescent properties of gold(I) complexes has been pubished!

Published on April 21, 2026 – Updated on April 21, 2026

This work is the result of a fruitful collaboration with our colleagues in Barcelona and Lisbon as part of the LUCES COST Action.

Effect of Micellar Encapsulation on the Luminescent Properties of Triphenylene N-Heterocyclic Carbene Gold(I) Complexes

by Anyie P. Atencio, Mounsef Lahboubi, David Aguilà, Inmaculada Angurell, João Carlos Lima, Kristin Bartik and Laura Rodríguez
in Chemistry Europe (Open Access)
First published: April. 2026

https://doi.org/110.1002/ceur.202500446

Abstract

The photophysical properties of gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes incorporating 2-ethynyltriphenylene chromo-phores were investigated in solution and in confined micellar environments. Two series of complexes were synthesized, differing in the nature of the NHC ligand (imidazole or benzimidazole) and the length of the alkyl lateral substituents. The structural and electronic properties of the compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR, absorption, and emission spectroscopies. The complexes exhibited dual fluorescence and phosphorescence emissions in solutions, with enhanced phos- phorescence in concentrated samples due to enhanced intersystem crossing (ISC) efficiency. Encapsulation within cetyltrime-thylammonium chloride (CTACl) micelles, confirmed via fluorescence microscopy, cryo-TEM and DOSY NMR, led to modifications in the emission profile, favoring fluorescence over phosphorescence due to steric restrictions on aggregation. This study highlights the sensitivity of the luminescent properties of gold(I) complexes to their environment and their tunability through micellar confinement.