Structures and fluorescence of two new hetero-dinuclear lanthanide(III) complexes derived from a Schiff-base ligand

Abstract

Two isostructural dinuclear lanthanide(III)/Schiff-base complexes [{Ce_1.5Eu_0.5(clapi)}₂]·2CH₃CN (1) and [{La_1.5Eu_0.5(clapi)}₂]·2CH₃CN (2) {H₃clapi = 2-(5-chloride-2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(5-chloride-2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazolidine} have been prepared by template procedure and characterized by elemental analyses, ICP, IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Lanthanide ions Ce(III) and Eu(III) in 1, and La(III) and Eu(III) in 2 are disordered with occupancies 0.75 for Ce and 0.25 for Eu in 1; 0.75 for La and 0.25 for Eu in 2. In the compounds, each lanthanide is coordinated to four N and four O atoms from two clapi³⁻ ligands, forming a distorted square antiprism. Two phenol oxygen atoms from the middle arms of the two heptadentate μ₂-bridging ligands connect the two Ce(Eu) atoms in 1, and La(Eu) in 2. The solution of the two complexes in CH₂Cl₂ exhibits red fluorescence from Eu³⁺ ions at 77 K, very weak at room temperature.

Keywords:

• Crystal structure
• Fluorescence
• Hetero-dinuclear lanthanide complexes

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Professor Xiaozeng You of Nanjing University, P. R. China, for his kindness and encouragement. The Project was sponsored by SRF for ROCS, SEM.