A neutral branched platinum–acetylide complex possessing a tetraphenylethylene core: preparation of a luminescent organometallic gelator and its unexpected spectroscopic behaviour during sol-to-gel transition

A neutral branched platinum-acetylide complex TPA possessing a tetraphenylethylene core was successfully prepared, which was found to form luminescent organometallic gels in ethyl acetate. Stimulated by temperature or F(-), the reversible gel-sol transition was realized. More interestingly, TPA exhibited an unexpected blue shift of the emission during the sol-to-gel transition.