Crystal structure and luminescence of a europium 3-methoxybenzoate complex with 2,2′-bipyridine

Abstract

The structure of the dimer [Eu( m-MOBA) 3·2,2′-bipy] 2 ( m-MOBA: m-methoxybenzoate, 2,2′-bipy: 2,2′-bipyridine) was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Each europium atom is coordinated with two oxygen atoms of the chelated carboxyl group, four oxygen atoms of the bidentate bridging carboxylate groups and two nitrogen atoms from a 2,2′-bipyridine molecule forming a dimeric structure with coordination number 8. The luminescence behaviour of the Eu 3+ ion in [Eu( m-MOBA) 3·2,2′-bipy] 2 was observed at 77 K. The emission spectra of 5 D 1→ 7 F J (J=1–3) and 5 D 0→ 7 F J (J=0–4) transitions were measured. The complex displays intense luminescence and the Eu 3+ ions in the dimer occur in slightly different chemical environments.