Curcuminoid Ligands for Sensitization of Near-Infrared Lanthanide Emission

Fluorescent lanthanide complexes were synthesized using a non-phenolic analog of curcumin as the principal chromophoric chelating ligand. Sensitized, near-infrared fluorescence is observed in these complexes as a result of photo-excitation of the chromophoric ligands, population of the molecular triplet state, and transfer of energy to the emitting lanthanide ion. For the purpose of intra-molecular energy transfer, the triplet states of curcuminoid ligands are more favorably matched with the excited electronic states of neodymium and ytterbium ions than those associated with less conjugated β-diketonate ligands. Sensitization of fluorescence through an internal redox reaction, thought to occur in other ytterbium complexes, is predicted to be less probable under the present circumstances.     

Preparation and luminescence properties of hybrid materials containing lanthanide complexes covalently bonded to a terpyridine-functionalized silica matrix

New kinds of organic-inorganic hybrid materials consisting of lanthanide (Er³⁺, Eu³⁺, and Tb³⁺) complexes covalently bonded to a silica-based network have been obtained by a sol-gel approach. A new versatile compound containing terpyridine has been synthesized by 4′-p-aminophenyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine and 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate, which is used as the a ligand of lanthanide ions and also the siloxane network precursor. The obtained hybrid materials were characterized by FT-IR, TGA, DSC, near-infrared, and visible spectrofluorometer, as well as decay analysis. For the Hybrid-Er and Hybrid-Eu, excitation at the ligand absorption wavelength resulted in the typical near-IR luminescence (centered at around 1.54 μm) resulting from the ⁴I_13/2-⁴I_15/2 transition of Er³⁺ ions and strong visible region emission of the Eu³⁺ ions (⁵D₀-⁷F_J), which contributed to the efficient energy transfer from the ligands to the lanthanide ions. However, we have not found strong emission for the Hybrid-Tb. This indicated that the energy transfer did not take place in this system. A model of indirect excitation mechanism to explain the phenomenon was also suggested.     

Structure and photophysical behavior of 2,2′-bipyrimidine/lanthanide ion complexes in various environments

The photophysical behavior of 2,2′-bipyrimidine has been studied alone and in the presence of several lanthanide or other metal ions. This substance, which is employed as bridging ligand in homo- and hetero-dinuclear complexes, can form stable complexes with luminescent lanthanide ions like Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺. Complexes precipitated from common solvents are crystalline with a structure that consists of discrete, centrosymmetric dinuclear entities with a planar ligand configuration. These complexes are strongly luminescent. Luminescence is sensitized by ligand-to-metal energy transfer. However, when the ligand and metal ions are mixed in an unconventional solvent, like a poly(ethylene glycol) oligomer, all reagents stay in solution and produce a different type of complex where only an enhanced ligand-centered fluorescence can be observed. It is possible that such fluorescence is emitted by 2,2′-bipyrimidine in a non-planar configuration. This behavior has also been observed with other heterocyclic ligands that can exist in different conformers, like terpyridine, and it may explain why some ligand-lanthanide complexes sometimes fail to sensitize efficient photoluminescence.     

Spectroscopic study on the 4′-(4-pyridyl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine and its metal complexes

Multitopic ligand, 4′-(4-pyridyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (pyterpy), has attracted growing attention because of its unique structural features, optical and electrochemical properties. Here, we report spectroscopic studies of pyterpy and its metal complexes in methanol solution. For the pure pyterpy, the ligand emission intensity increased with its concentration in the dilute solution, but decreased when its concentration was over 1.3×10⁻⁵ mol/l due to the concentration quenching. No significant influence on the ligand luminescence was observed for the Zn²⁺-pyterpy complex but strong luminescence quenching was observed for the electroactive Fe²⁺- and Co²⁺-pyterpy complexes. The lanthanide (Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺) complexes of the pyterpy showed both ligand and lanthanide ion emissions, especially for the Tb³⁺-pyterpy complex, suggesting that the excited energy of pyterpy ligand could be efficiently transferred to the central Tb³⁺ ions. The luminescence was pH sensitive with the strongest emission in the neutral solution. The results indicated that the multitopic ligand of pyterpy could not only act as linkers for the metal-directed building blocks, but also act as optical materials with its own emission at about 364 nm and as light antenna for the lanthanide ions.     

Magnetic and optical properties of nitroxide radicals and their lanthanide complexes

This paper reports the structural, magnetic and optical properties of three series of lanthanide complexes [Ln(radical)₄](ClO₄)₃, [Ln(radical)₂(NO₃)₃] and [Ln(radical)(hfac)₃] (Ln=Gd(III), La(III) or Eu(III)) with nitronyl or imino nitroxide radicals.The magnetic properties of the gadolinium complexes were studied. Along the series, most gadolinium(III) complexes exhibit antiferromagnetic Gd^III-radical interaction. These results are discussed.The full absorption and luminescence spectra of some lanthanide complexes and their uncoordinated free radical ligands were measured. The rich vibronic structure in luminescence and absorption spectra indicates that several excited states define the absorption spectra between 400 and 800 nm. Qualitative trends can be established between magnetic ground state properties and the energies and vibronic structure of the title compounds.     

Spectral and luminescent characteristics of trivalent lanthanide ions in a POCl3-SnCl4 inorganic solvent

We have measured the absorption and luminescence spectra of trivalent lanthanide ions (Pr³⁺, Sm³⁺, Tb³⁺, Dy³⁺, Ho³⁺, Er³⁺, Tm³⁺, and Yb³⁺) in the visible and near-IR wavelength ranges in a POCl₃-SnCl₄ inorganic solvent. In terms of the Judd-Ofelt model, the oscillator strengths of absorption bands, the probabilities of radiative transitions, the luminescence branching coefficients, the lifetimes of excited states, and the luminescence quantum yields have been calculated. Possibilities of creating new laser media have been evaluated. A conclusion is drawn regarding the symmetry of the environment of trivalent lanthanide ions in the POCl₃-SnCl₄ solvent.     

Radiationless Energy Transfer Between Rare-Earth Ions in Solutions and its Application to the Investigation of Complexation Processes

Radiationless energy transfer between rare-earth ions (Ln³⁺) in solutions has some features: 1) the electronic transitions in Ln³⁺ complexes causing the luminescence of energy donor and the absorption of energy acceptors are forbidden by Laporte's rule and are weakly intensive. Therefore the critical radius (R_o) of energy transfer between the rare-earth ions for dipole-dipole mechanism is close to that for exchange-resonant mechanism. This fact presents difficulties for unequivocal interpretation of the energy transfer mechanism. 2) The plus-three lanthanide ions exist in solution as a set of complexes with different number of charged ligands in the inner coordination sphere and hence with different total charge of complexes.     

Optical properties of red, green and blue emitting rare earth benzenetricarboxylate compounds

Red, blue and green emitting rare earth compounds (RE³⁺=Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺ and Tb³⁺) containing the benzenetricarboxylate ligands (BTC) [hemimellitic (EMA), trimellitic (TLA) and trimesic (TMA)] were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, complexometric titration, X-ray diffraction patterns, thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy. The complexes presented the following formula: [RE(EMA)(H₂O)₂], [RE(TLA)(H₂O)₄] and [RE(TMA)(H₂O)₆], except for Tb-TMA compound, which was obtained only as anhydrous. Phosphorescence data of Gd³⁺-(BTC) complexes showed that the triplet states (T) of the BTC³⁻ anions have energy higher than the main emitting states of the Eu³⁺ (⁵D₀) and Tb³⁺ (⁵D₄), indicating that BTC ligands can act as intramolecular energy donors for these metal ions. The high values of experimental intensity parameters (Ω₂) of Eu³⁺-(BTC) complexes indicate that the europium ion is in a highly polarizable chemical environment. Based on the luminescence spectra, the energy transfer from the T state of BTC ligands to the excited ⁵D₀ and ⁵D₄ levels of the Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions is discussed. The emission quantum efficiencies (η) of the ⁵D₀ emitting level of the Eu³⁺ ion have been also determined. In the case of the Tb³⁺ ion, the photoluminescence data show the high emission intensity of the characteristic transitions ⁵D₄→⁷F_J (J=0-6), indicating that the BTC ligands are good sensitizers. The RE³⁺-(BTC) complexes act as efficient light conversion molecular devices (LCMDs) and can be used as tricolor luminescent materials.     

Synthesis and Luminescent Properties of Lanthanide Complexes with Structurally Related Novel Multipodal Ligands

To explore the relationship between the structure of the ligands and the luminescent properties of the lanthanide complexes, a series of lanthanide nitrate complexes with two novel structurally related multipodal ligands, 1,3-bis{[(2’-(2-picolylaminoformyl))phenoxyl]methyl}benzene (L ^I ) and 1,2-bis{[(2’-(2-picolylaminoformyl))phenoxyl]methyl}benzene (L ^II ), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra and molar conductivity measurements. At the same time, the luminescent properties of the Eu(III) and Tb(III) nitrate complexes in solid state and the Tb(III) nitrate complexes in solvents were investigated at room temperature. Under the excitation of UV light, these complexes exhibited characteristic emissions of central metal ions. The lowest triplet state energy levels T₁ of these ligands both match better to the lowest resonance energy level of Tb(III) than to Eu(III) ion. The influence of the structure of the ligands on the luminescent intensity of the complexes was also discussed.     

Spectroscopic studies of lanthanide(III) ion complexes with diethyl(phthalimidomethyl) phosphonate

Complexation and photophysical properties of complexes of lanthanide ions, Ln(III), with diethyl(phthalimidomethyl)phosphonate ligand, DPIP, were studied. Interactions between Ln(III) and DPIP were investigated using Nd(III) absorption and Eu(III) and Tb(III) luminescence (emission and excitation) spectra, recorded in acetonitrile solution containing different counter ions (NO₃^-, Cl^- and ClO₄^-). Results of the absorption spectroscopy have shown that counter ions play a significant role in the complexation of Ln(III)/DPIP complexes. Studies of luminescence spectra of Eu(III) and Tb(III) ions proved that the formation of Ln(III)/DPIP complexes of stoichiometry Ln:L=1:3 is preferred in solution. Based on the results of elemental analysis, Nd(III) absorption spectra and IR and NMR data, it was shown that the DPIP ligand binds Ln(III) ions via oxygen from phosphoryl group, forming complexes of a general formula Ln(DPIP)₃(NO₃)₃·H₂O, in which the NO₃^- ions are coordinated with the metal ion as bidentate ligands. Luminescent properties and energy transfer, from the ligand to Ln(III) ions in the complexes formed, were studied based on the emission and excitation spectra of Eu(III) and Tb(III). Their luminescent lifetimes and emission quantum yields were also measured.     

Optical and spectroscopic properties of substituted oxa- and thiazole luminophores metalated with platinum metals

The cyclometalated [M(pbo)En]PF₆(M = Pd(II), Pt(II)), [M(pbo)₂En]PF₆ (M = Rh(III), Ir(III)), and [Rh(C∧N)₂En]PF₆ ((C∧N)^? are the deprotonated forms of 2-phenylbenzoxazole (pbo), 2,5-diphenyloxazole (dpo), 2-phenylbenzothiazole (pbt), 2-biphenyl-4-yl-5-phenyloxazole (bpo), and 2-biphenyl-4-yl-6-phenylbenzoxazole (bpbo) and En is ethylenediamine) complexes are studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and electronic absorption and emission spectroscopy. Metalation of luminophores leads to the formation of five-membered {M(C∧N)} cycles in the composition of plane-square and octahedral complexes of the cis-C,C structure. In addition to the intraligand (IL) π-π* optical transitions in the UV region, the complexes are characterized by long-wavelength metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) absorption bands in the region of 366–416 nm. The phosphorescence of the complexes in the visible region (482–531 nm) is attributed to radiative transition from the mixed IL/MLCT electronically excited state. The temperature quenching of the phosphorescence of complexes is attributed to the thermally activated population of metal-centered electronically excited states with subsequent nonradiative deactivation.     

Spectroscopic studies on the luminescence properties of ternary europium complexes with different ligands

In this paper, ligand effect of several bi-dental oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N) ligands on the red luminescence properties of europium ion (Eu³⁺) was studied comprehensively. Absorption, emission, and excitation spectral properties of ternary europium complexes with different combinations of ligands including thenoyl trifluoroacetone (TTA), naphthyl trifluoroacetone (NTA), 2,2′-bipyridyl (bpy) and phenanthroline (Phen) were investigated. Efficient Eu³⁺ red emission was observed with all the combinations of the above mentioned ligands. The most intense emission was found with the all nitrogen coordinated complex Eu(bpy)₂(Phen)₂ while the longest wavelength excitation band was recorded with oxygen-nitrogen mixed NTA-bpy complex Eu(NTA)₁(bpy)₃. With change of the ligands combination and ratio, the Eu³⁺ emission peak changes slightly from 612 to 618 nm. The absorption and excitation spectra of the europium complexes were compared and analyzed referring to the individual absorption spectral properties of the ligands. The relation between ligand-to-metal charge transfer states and luminescence intensities for different complexes was studied.     

Luminescence efficiency of aromatic carboxylates of europium and terbium when methylene bridges and nitro groups are present in the ligands

We discuss the possibility of optimizing the brightness of luminescence for phenylcarboxylates, naphthylcarboxylates, and indolylcarboxylates of europium and terbium and their adducts with 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridine by modifying the ligands. We have studied the efficiency of luminescence and luminescence excitation. We consider the effect of blocking energy transfer from the ligands to the Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions by methylene (-CH₂-) bridges dividing the π-electron system of the ligands into two parts and by the electronacceptor nitro group (-NO₂). We have analyzed the pathways for transfer and degradation of the excitation energy at 77 K and 300 K. From the phosphorescence spectra of gadolinium salts, we have determined the energies of the lowest excited triplet states of the ligands. We consider the effect of the relative positions of the triplet levels of the ligands and the excited levels of the Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions on the luminescence efficiency. We found channels for dissipation of the excitation energy via the ππ* and nπ* states of the aromatic system of the carboxylate and the NO₂ group. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 1, pp. 48–54, January–February, 2007.     

Photoluminescence, optical absorption and hypersensitivity in mono- and dinuclear lanthanide (Tb and Ho) β-diketonate complexes with diimines and bis-diimine bridging ligand

The photoluminescence properties of three Tb(III) complexes of the form [Tb₂(fod)₆(μ-bpm)], [Tb(fod)₃(phen)] and [Tb(fod)₃(bpy)] and optical absorption properties of their Ho(III) analogues (fod=anion of 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione, bpm=2,2′-bipyrimidine, phen=1,10-phenanthroline and bpy=2,2′-bipyridyl) in a series of solvents are presented. The luminescence of the complexes is sensitive to changes in environment (ligand/solvent) around Tb(III) and co-sensitization of the ancillary ligands. The enhancement of the luminescence intensity in coordinating solvents is attributed to the transformation of eight-coordination into less symmetric nine-coordination structure around Tb(III). Among phen and bpy, the phen is better co-sensitizer while bpm has been observed as poor co-sensitizer. The enhancement of the oscillator strength of ⁵G₆←⁵I₈ hypersensitive transition in the 4f-4f absorption in some coordinating solvents is attributed to decrease in the symmetry of the field around Ho(III) ion. The [Ho(fod)₃(phen)] is inert towards the solvents and retains its bulk structure and composition in solution. The transformation of the holmium complexes in DMSO into [Ho(fod)₃(DMSO)₂] species is found. The results reveal that the luminescence and 4f-4f absorption properties of lanthanide complexes in solution can be modulated by tuning the coordination structure through ancillary ligands and donor solvents.     

Efficient Sensitized Luminescence of Binuclear Ln(III) Complexes Based on a Chelating Bis-Carbacylamidophosphate

Binuclear rare earth complexes Ln₂L₃phen₂ (Ln^III?=?Nd^III, Sm^III, Eu^III, Tb^III, Dy^III, Yb^III and Y^III) with bis-CAPh type ligand - tetramethyl N,N′-(2,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluoro-1,5-dioxopentane-1,5-diyl)bis(phosphoramidate) (H₂L) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, NMR, absorption and luminescence spectroscopy. Luminescence measurements were performed for all the complexes in solid state and for the Eu^III, Tb^III and Y^III complexes - in solution in DMSO as well. The effective energy transfer from organic ligands to Ln^III ions strongly sensitizes the Ln^III ions emission and under excitation by UV light, the complexes exhibited bright characteristic emission of lanthanide metal centers. It was found that the energy level of the ligands lowest triplet state in the complexes matches better to resonance level of Eu^III rather than Tb^III ion. Depending on temperature the emission decay times of solid europium and terbium complexes were in the range of 1.5–2.0 ms. In solid state at room temperature the Eu^III complex possess intense luminescence with very high intrinsic quantum yield 91% and decay time equal 1.88 ms.

     

XAFS at Eu-L3 edge and UV-VUV excited luminescence of europium doped strontium borophosphate prepared in air

The local structure and the valences of europium in SrBPO₅:Eu prepared in air were checked by means of XAFS at Eu-L₃ edge. From the EXAFS results, it was discovered that the doped europium atoms were nine-coordinated by oxygen atoms and the distances of bond Eu-O were 2.42 Å in the host. From the XANES data, it was found that the divalent and trivalent europium coexisted in the matrix. The emission spectra excited by VUV or UV exhibited a prominent broad band due to the 4f⁶5d-4f⁷ transition of Eu²⁺ ions, which indicated that the trivalent europium ions were reduced in air in the matrix at high temperature by the defects [V_Sr]″ formed by aliovalent substitution between Sr²⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions. The VUV excitation spectra in 100-200 nm range showed that the matrix had absorption bands with the maxima at about 130 and 150 nm, respectively.     

Synthesis and Study of the Photophysical Properties of a New Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> Complex with 3-Hydroxypicolinamide

This work reports on the synthesis and characterization of a new complex of Eu³⁺ with the 3-hydroxypicolinamide ligand (Hhpa). Here we present an approach for obtaining bis[2-carbamoyl(κO)pyridin-3-olato(κO’)] lanthanide complexes, which were characterized through elemental analysis, thermal analysis, infrared and photoluminescence spectroscopies (emission, excitation, luminescence lifetimes, quantum efficiencies, Judd-Ofelt parameters and quantum yields). Although hpa can act as a bidentate ligand in different conformations, the results attest for the occurrence of a unique coordination site of low symmetry for the Eu³⁺ ions, in which two anionic hpa ligands coordinate the cations through an O/O chelating system. The phosphorescence of the synthesized gadolinium complex provides the energy of the triplet state, which is determined to be at 20,830 cm^-1 over the ground state. This makes the Hhpa ligand very adequate for sensitizing the Eu³⁺ luminescence, which leads to a very efficient antenna effect and opens a wide range of applications for the complex in light emitting organic-inorganic devices.     

Inversion of the relative probabilities of the f-f and f-d transitions in the Ln3+ lanthanide ions at their radio- and sonoexcitation as compared to photoexcitation

The results of measuring the efficiencies of the formation of electronically excited states of the Ln³⁺ lanthanide ions in aqueous solutions in the processes of radioluminescence and multibubble sonoluminescence are analyzed. In both cases, electronic excitation occurs due to inelastic collisions of Ln³⁺ ions with (for radioluminescence) charged ionizing particles in liquid and (for multibubble sonoluminescence) high-energy particles, primarily electrons, in the gas phase of cavitation bubbles. In both processes, the efficiencies of exciting ions whose luminescence states appear in the 4f-5d transitions (Ce³⁺ and Pr³⁺) are significantly lower (by an order of magnitude or larger) than the efficiencies of exciting ions whose luminescence states appear in the 4f-4f transitions (Gd³⁺ and Tb³⁺). Therefore, the probability of the f-d transitions is lower than the probability of the f-f transitions in lanthanide ions excited by collisions with the charged particles and the relative probabilities of these transitions are inverted in these processes as compared to photoexcitation. Original Russian Text ? G.L. Sharipov, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 85, No. 9, pp. 559–562.     

NMR and FT-Raman Studies on the Interaction of Lanthanide Ions with Sphingomyelin Bilayers

The interactions of lanthanide ions with sphingomyelin bilayers have been studied by using 2D NOESY spectroscopy and FT-Raman spectroscopy methods. The results indicate that lanthanide ions, as well as divalent calcium, combine mainly to the phosphate group in the polar headgroup and do not change the conformation of O-C-C-N⁺ backbone in the choline group of sphingomyelin bilayers. The polar headgroup is still extending parallel to the bilayer surface and O-C-C-N⁺ group is still in its gauche conformer.     

Excited-state absorption and energy output of laser ruby

The laser performance, luminescence intensity and absorption in excited state of rubies annealed in reducing or oxidizing atmosphere is given. Rubies doped with Mg, Ti or Fe were compared to those containing Cr only. The decrease of energy output is caused by the non-radiative transitions from the excited states to the ground⁴A₂ state. O^– centre developed by the presence of the large ions facilitate the transitions from the upper excited states only, whereas Fe and to a less extent Ti ions make the non-radiative transition from the metastable²E level to the⁴A₂ level possible. Ti³⁺ ions filter also the UV content of the flashlight and prevent the transition from the²E to the higher states.