Greener solid state synthesis of a ternary lanthanum complex at room temperature

Abstract

Wet chemical synthesis of rare-earth complexes often requires large amounts of solvents to dissolve reactants, and the use of base to neutralize acidic solution. We have explored a green alternative route that involves solid-state synthesis of ternary lanthanum complex at room temperature by using lanthanum chloride hydrate (LaCl3 · 6H2O), sodium p-hydroxybenzoate (PBA), and 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-hq). The structure and composition of the ternary lanthanum complex were confirmed by microanalysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV-Vis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. UV-Vis and FT-IR spectra confirms coordination of lanthanum ion with two ligands and XRD results show that signals of the product are not from the three reactants, and are believed to originate from the ternary lanthanum complex prepared by solid-state reaction. Effects of reaction conditions such as molar ratios and synthetic method on the formation of ternary lanthanum complex were also investigated. The structure and composition of the ternary lanthanum complex are independent of molar ratios of reactants. Compared to the ternary lanthanum complex prepared via solution-phase synthesis, although the ternary lanthanum complex prepared by solid-state reactions has the same composition and structure, the synthesis is scalable and greener.