Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Optical Properties of a Trinuclear Zinc(II) Complex with Rhodamine B

A heteroleptic homotrinuclear complex, [Zn3(valhydr)2(RhB)2(EtOH)2](ClO4)2 (H2valhydr = 1,2-bis(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)hydrazine, RhB = rhodamine B), was synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction on single crystal. In the centrosymmetric complex, the zinc ions are positioned in a linear manner. The external zinc ions are pentacoordinated with a distorted square pyramidal stereochemistry, while the central zinc ion presents an elongated octahedral geometry. Luminescent properties of the complex were investigated in solid state and solution.