Salen homonuclear and heteronuclear lanthanide(III) complexes with near-infrared (NIR) luminescence

Abstract

Two lanthanide complexes are achieved by utilizing H2salen/acac ligands (H2salen=N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneimine), acac=acetylacetonate). They are homonuclear [Nd4(μ3-OH)2(salen)2(acac)6(CH3OH)2]·CH3OH (1) and heteronuclear [NdYb(salen)2(acac)2] (2). The structures of the two complexes were determined by X-ray crystallographic studies and their photophysical properties were investigated. The homonuclear Nd4 complex exhibits characteristic metal-centered NIR emission. The heteronuclear NdYb shows ‘dual emission’ from both neodymium(III) and ytterbium(III) ions.