Trinuclear gold chains and octanuclear copper gyrobifastigia stabilized using a fluorinated pyridyl ligand

The fluorinated pyridyl ligand [6-(CF₃)-2-Py]^- with gold(I) affords trinuclear Au₃ assemblies that further organize into a supramolecular helical column through aurophilic interactions. Its chemistry with copper(I) is even more remarkable, leading to an unprecedented octanuclear copper-pyridyl cluster complex featuring a central Cu₈ core with an approximate gyrobifastigium geometry. Solid powders of compounds {(6-(CF₃)-2-Py)Au}₃ and {(6-(CF₃)-2-Py)Cu}₈ exhibit intense photoluminescence at room temperature, displaying green and yellow colors to the naked eye, respectively. The octanuclear copper complex is also an effective catalyst for azide-alkyne cycloaddition, producing triazoles. Detailed computational analyses confirm the preference for experimental geometries and provide insights into the observed luminescence.