Aggregated coordination polymers of Ag⁺ with a cysteine derivative ligand containing an AIEgen

We investigated coordination polymers of Ag⁺ with a cysteine-based thiol ligand designed to contain a tetraphenylethylene AIEgen (l- and d-1). The coordination polymers, forming in a variety of protic and aprotic organic solvents, such as THF, CH₃CN and CH₃OH, were shown to undergo aggregation in H₂O/THF binary solvents at water volume fractions above 50%, where emission was substantially enhanced while the CD profile was reversed, yet the dependence of the CD signal on ee remained S-shaped for the polymers in the aprotic organic solvents THF and CH₃CN, in contrast to that in protic solvents CH₃OH and C₂H₅OH.