Fluorescence Quenching of a Novel Eu(Ⅲ) Coordination Compound for the Detection of Trace Amounts of Water: Synthesis,Structure and Photoluminescent Property

A novel luminescent coordination compound Eu(TTA)_3(DEDAF)(1, TTA = 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-(2-thenoyl)acetone, DEDAF = 9,9-diethyl-4,5-diazafluoren) has been synthesized and fully characterized by infrared spectrum, elemental analysis, UV-vis spectrum, etc. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis reveals that compound 1 shows a mononuclear structure with the europium atom in coordinating to one DAF and three TTA ligands. The mononuclear structure units are assembled into a 3-D polymer by hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions. Photoluminescent property of 1 was investigated in detail at room temperature. Complex 1 emits strong red luminescence. However, it could be quenched even by small amount of water. The fluorescence intensity at 614 nm decreases linearly with the water content increasing(vol% in acetonitrile) in the range of 0.025~0.2% under 278 nm excitation. Thermogravimetric analysis has also been studied, which demonstrates good thermal stability of 1.