Two binuclear lanthanide complexes with 4-quinoline carboxylic acid: crystal structures and luminescent properties

Two isomorphic lanthanide complexes [Eu₂(L)₆(H₂O)₄] · 2H₂O (1) and [Tb₂(L)₆(H₂O)₄] · 2H₂O (2), (HL = 4-quinoline carboxylic acid) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both complexes are binuclear and each metal center adopts nine-coordination with nine oxygens from two H₂O molecules and carboxylates of three ligands; L exhibits three different coordination modes. Luminescent properties of 1 and 2 at room temperature indicate that the triplet-state level of this ligand matches better with the lowest excited state level of Eu(III) than with Tb(III).