Comparative Investigation into the Complexation and Extraction Properties of Tridentate and Tetradentate Phosphine Oxide-Functionalized 1,10-Phenanthroline Ligands toward Lanthanides and Actinides

Two new phosphine oxide-functionalized 1,10-phenanthroline ligands, tetradentate 2,9-bis(butylphenylphosphine oxide)-1,10-phenanthroline (BuPh-BPPhen, L¹ ) and tridentate 2-(butylphenylphosphine oxide)-1,10-phenanthroline (BuPh-MPPhen, L² ), were synthesized and studied comparatively for their coordination with trivalent actinides and lanthanides. The complexation mechanisms of these two ligands toward trivalent f-block elements were thoroughly elucidated by NMR spectroscopy, UV/vis spectrophotometry, fluorescence spectrometry, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, solvent extraction, and theoretical calculation methods. NMR titration results demonstrated that 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 (metal to ligand) lanthanides complexes formed for L¹ , whereas 1 : 1, 1 : 2 and 1 : 3 lanthanide complexes formed for L² in methanol. The formation of these species was validated by fluorescence spectrometry, and the corresponding stability constants for the complexes of Nd^III with L¹ and L² were determined by using UV/vis spectrophotometry. Structures of the 10-coordinated 1 : 1-type complexes of Eu L¹ (NO₃)₃ and [Eu L² (NO₃)₃(H₂O)] Et₂O in the solid state were characterized by X-ray crystallography. In solvent-extraction experiments, L¹ exhibited extremely strong extraction ability for both Am^III and Eu^III, whereas L² showed nearly no extraction toward Am^III or Eu^III due to its high hydrophilicity. Finally, the structures and bonding natures of the complex species formed between Am^III/Eu^III and L¹/L² were analyzed in DFT calculations.     

Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Study of EuIII and EuII Coordination in the 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide Ionic Liquid

Separation processes based on room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) and electrochemical refining are promising strategies for the recovery of lanthanides from primary ores and electronic waste. However, they require the speciation of dissolved elements to be known with accuracy. In the present study, Eu coordination and Eu^III/Eu^II electrochemical behavior as a function of water content in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIm][NTf₂]) was investigated using UV–visible spectrophotometry, time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. In situ measurements were performed in spectroelectrochemical cells. Under anhydrous conditions, Eu^III and Eu^II were complexed by NTf₂, forming Eu−O and Eu−(N,O) bonds with the anion sulfoxide function and N atoms, respectively. This complexation resulted in a greater stability of Eu^II, and in quasi-reversible oxidation–reduction with an E₀’ potential of 0.18 V versus the ferrocenium/ferrocene (Fc⁺/Fc) couple. Upon increasing water content, progressive incorporation of water in the Eu^III coordination sphere occurred. This led to reversible oxidation–reduction reactions, but also to a decrease in stability of the +II oxidation state (E₀’=−0.45 V vs. Fc⁺/Fc in RTIL containing 1300 mm water).     

Energy transfer in luminescent complexes of EuIII and TbIII with homo- and copolymers of acrylic acid and alkyl methacrylates

The influence of the composition and structure of a macromolecular ligand on the efficiency of energy transfer in complexes of Eu^III and Tb^III with ligands based on acrylic acid has been studied. It has been found that a decrease in the size of an alkyl group of methacrylic esters and a low content of acrylic moieties of Eu^III complexes with copolymers increase the efficiency of Eu^III concentration quenching. Insertion of noncoordinative alkyl methacrylate into the polymeric chain results in an increase in the efficiency of energy transfer from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Klrimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1425–1428, June, 1996.     

Reactivity Towards Europium(III) of the Radiolysis Products of the Ionic Liquid 1‐Methyl‐3‐butyl‐1H‐imidazolium Bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]amide (C4‐mimTf2N) and Effect of Water: A TRLFS (Time‐Resolved Laser‐Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy) Preliminary Study

The effect of laser irradiation at λ_exc 266 nm onto the fluorescence characteristics of Eu^III in solution of the ionic liquid 1‐methyl‐3‐butyl‐1H‐imidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]amide (C₄‐mimTf₂N) was examined for various amounts of H₂O added. Stable radiolytic products that were generated at very low doses (in the range of 4 kGy) were very reactive with Eu^III and led to the appearance of a new europium luminescent species that was characterized by lifetime, relative intensity, and emission spectrum. Although the lifetime and the intensity depended on the H₂O content, the emission spectrum was not influenced by H₂O. It was shown that large amounts of H₂O, although not preventing radiolysis of C₄‐mimTf₂N, inhibited the complexation with Eu^III.     

A ratio-metric fluorescent sensor design platform with red emission of Europium(III) as built-in fluorescence correction

A Eu^III-containing single molecule BCR-Eu as design platform for ratio-metric fluorescent sensor which includes a blue-emitting coumarin dye, a green-emitting BODIPY fluorophore and a Eu^III moiety as the origin of red light has been designed and synthesized. The compound BCR shows only green emission with large stoke shift when excited in 400 nm due to good fluorescence resonance energy transfer from coumarin to BODIPY. After embedding Eu^III complexes in the molecule, BCR-Eu exhibits dual emission which is equal in magnitude and independent of each other, when excited at the range of 305–365 nm. An emission from Lanthanide complexes as the stable built-in standard fluorescence peak offers a promising opportunity to enhance the precision of bioimaging and also an ideal design platform for future ratio-metric fluorescent sensor.     

Excitation Energy-Transfer Processes in the Sensitization Luminescence of Europium in a Highly Luminescent Complex

The excitation energy transfer (EET) pathways in the sensitization luminescence of Eu^III and the excitation energy migration between the different ligands in [Eu(fod)₃dpbt] [where fod=6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione and dpbt=2-(N,N-diethylanilin-4-yl)-4,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazine], exhibiting well-separated fluorescence excitation and phosphorescence bands of the different ligands, were investigated by using time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy for the first time. The data clearly revealed that upon the excitation of dpbt, the sensitization luminescence of Eu^III in [Eu(fod)₃dpbt] was dominated by the singlet EET pathway, whereas the triplet EET pathway involving T₁(dpbt) was inefficient. The energy migration from T₁(dpbt) to T₁(fod) in [Eu(fod)₃dpbt] was not observed. Moreover, upon the excitation of fod, a singlet EET pathway for the sensitization of Eu^III luminescence, including the energy migration from S₁(fod) to S₁(dpbt) was revealed, in addition to the triplet EET pathway involving T₁(fod). Under the excitation of dpbt at 410 nm, [Eu(fod)₃dpbt] exhibited an absolute quantum yield for Eu^III luminescence of 0.59 at 298 K. This work provides a solid and elegant example for the concept that singlet EET pathway could dominate the sensitization luminescence of Eu^III in some complexes.     

Analysis of Ligand Field Effects in Europium(III) Phosphates

Optical spectra (powder reflectance, UV/Vis/NIR region), and temperature dependent magnetic behavior (χ, μ/μ_B) were recorded for the series of anhydrous europium(III) phosphates Eu^III₃O₃(PO₄), Eu^IIIPO₄, Eu^III₂P₄O₁₃, lt- and ht-Eu^III(PO₃)₃, and Eu^IIIP₅O₁₄. By modeling within the AOM framework, the experimental data can be related to the ligand-field splitting experienced by the Eu³⁺ ions in the various mainly low-symmetry coordination environments. Our study confirms the well-established relation e_σ(Eu³⁺–O^2–) ~ d(Eu³⁺–O^2–)^–7.0 between the AOM parameter and the interatomic distance. In addition it is shown that e_σ(Eu³⁺–O^2–) depends strongly on the highly variable polarizability of the oxygen ligator atoms. This polarizability can be related to the optical basicity Λ of the various phosphates.     

Supramolecular Polymer Hydrogels from Bolaamphiphilic L‐Histidine and Benzene Dicarboxylic Acids: Thixotropy and Significant Enhancement of EuIII Fluorescence

Supramolecular polymers from the bolaamphiphilic L ‐histidine ( BolaHis ) and benzene dicarboxylic acids (o‐phthalic acid, OPA ; isophthalic acid, IPA and terephthalic acid, TPA ) were found to form hydrogels although neither of the single components could gel water. It was suggested that the hydrogen bond and ionic interactions among different imidazole and carboxylic acid groups are responsible for the formation of the supramolecular polymer as well as the hydrogel formation. Depending on the structures of the dicarboxylic acids, different behaviors of the gels were observed. The hydrogels from OPA / BolaHis and IPA / BolaHis showed thixotropic properties, that is, the hydrogel was destroyed by hand shaking and then slowly gelated again at room temperature. However, the hydrogels of TPA / BolaHis could not. Interestingly, when Eu^III was doped into IPA / BolaHis supramolecular polymers, very strong luminescence enhancement was observed. FT‐IR spectroscopies and XRD analysis revealed that the strong luminescence enhancement could be attributed to the matched supramolecular nanostructures, which render the correct binding and a good dispersion of Eu^III ions. The work offers a new approach for fabricating functional hydrogels through the supramolecular polymers.     

Long-Range LMCT Coupling in EuIII Coordination Polymers for an Effective Molecular Luminescent Thermometer**

A design for an effective molecular luminescent thermometer based on long-range electronic coupling in lanthanide coordination polymers is proposed. The coordination polymers are composed of lanthanide ions Eu^III and Gd^III, three anionic ligands (hexafluoroacetylacetonate), and a chrysene-based phosphine oxide bridges (6,12-bis(diphenylphosphoryl)chrysene). The zig-zag orientation of the single polymer chains induces the formation of packed coordination structures containing multiple sites for CH-F intermolecular interactions, resulting in thermal stability above 350 °C. The electronic coupling is controlled by changing the concentration of the Gd^III ion in the Eu^III-Gd^III polymer. The emission quantum yield and the maximum relative temperature sensitivity (S_m) of emission lifetimes for the Eu^III-Gd^III polymer (Eu:Gd=1:1, Φ_tot=52 %, S_m=3.73 % K⁻¹) were higher than those for the pure Eu^III coordination polymer (Φ_tot=36 %, S_m=2.70 % K⁻¹), respectively. Enhanced temperature sensing properties are caused by control of long-range electronic coupling based on phosphine oxide with chrysene framework.     

Exploring the Subtle Effect of Aliphatic Ring Size on Minor Actinide-Extraction Properties and Metal Ion Speciation in Bis-1,2,4-Triazine Ligands

The synthesis and evaluation of three novel bis-1,2,4-triazine ligands containing five-membered aliphatic rings are reported. Compared to the more hydrophobic ligands 1 – 3 containing six-membered aliphatic rings, the distribution ratios for relevant f-block metal ions were approximately one order of magnitude lower in each case. Ligand 10 showed an efficient, selective and rapid separation of Am^III and Cm^III from nitric acid. The speciation of the ligands with trivalent f-block metal ions was probed using NMR titrations and competition experiments, time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. While the tetradentate ligands 8 and 10 formed Ln^III complexes of the same stoichiometry as their more hydrophobic analogues 2 and 3 , significant differences in speciation were observed between the two classes of ligand, with a lower percentage of the extracted 1:2 complexes being formed for ligands 8 and 10 . The structures of the solid state 1:1 and 1:2 complexes formed by 8 and 10 with Y^III, Lu^III and Pr^III are very similar to those formed by 2 and 3 with Ln^III. Ligand 10 forms Cm^III and Eu^III 1:2 complexes that are thermodynamically less stable than those formed by ligand 3 , suggesting that less hydrophobic ligands form less stable An^III complexes. Thus, it has been shown for the first time how tuning the cyclic aliphatic part of these ligands leads to subtle changes in their metal ion speciation, complex stability and metal extraction affinity.     

Oxidative Conversion of a Europium(II)‐Based T1 Agent into a Europium(III)‐Based paraCEST Agent that can be Detected In Vivo by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The Eu^II complex of 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid (DOTA) tetra(glycinate) has a higher reduction potential than most Eu^II chelates reported to date. The reduced Eu^II form acts as an efficient water proton T₁ relaxation reagent, while the Eu^III form acts as a water‐based chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) agent. The complex has extremely fast water exchange rate. Oxidation to the corresponding Eu^III complex yields a well‐defined signal from the paraCEST agent. The time course of oxidation was studied in vitro and in vivo by T₁‐weighted and CEST imaging.     

Synthesis and structural determination of the first eight-coordinate rare earth metal complex with a six-member ring, (NH4)[EuIII(pdta)(H2O)] · H2O

(NH₄)[Eu^III(pdta)(H₂O)]?·?H₂O has been synthesized and characterized by infrared spectrum, fluorescence spectrum, elemental analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system with space group P2₁/n, a?=?12.7700(15)?Å, b?=?9.3885(11)?Å, c?=?14.4070(18)?Å, α?=?90°, β?=?95.950(2)°, γ?=?90°, V?=?1718.0(4)?ų, Z?=?4, M?=?508.28, D _c?=?1.965?g?cm^?3, μ?=?3.708?mm^?1, F(000)?=?1108. The structure was refined to R ₁?=?0.0238 for 3469 observed reflections (I?>?2σ(I)). The Eu^IIIN₂O₆ part in the [Eu^III(pdta)(H₂O)]^? complex anion has an eight-coordinate structure with a distorted square anti-prismatic conformation, in which six coordination positions, two nitrogen atoms and four oxygen atoms are from one pdta (=propylenediaminetetraacetic acid) ligand, the seventh position is an oxygen (O(8A)) from another pdta and the eighth coordination site is occupied by a water molecule. (NH₄)[Eu^III(pdta)(H₂O)]?·?H₂O is the first eight-coordinate complex with a six-member ring in the rare earth metal complexes with aminopolycarboxylic acid ligands.     

Zur Frage der Deprotonierung primärer und sekundärer Aminogruppen beim Kobaltieren von o-Hydroxy-o′-amino (bzw. alkyl-amino)-azofarbstoffen vom Typus Phenyl-azonaphtalin

Phenyl-azo naphthalene dyestuffs, which are substituted in o and in o′ position by hydroxy and amino (or alkylamino) groups, have been metallised with agents releasing either Co^II ions or Co^III ions, the 1:2 complexes formed being examined by means of electrophoresis and alkalimetric titrations. The amino or alkylamino groups are deprotonised only if they are in the naphthalene radical, or, if present in the benzene radical they are acidified by electrophilic substituents. Metallising with Co^II ions yielded usually 1:2 Co^III complexes. With one particular dyestuff, however, a 1:2 Co^II complex was obtained; it is assumed that this is due to a relatively lower oxidation potential of this dyestuff.     

Bovine α-Lactalbumin: Identification of two metal-ion-binding sites using the europium (III) luminescent probe

The luminescent Eu^III ion has been used to probe the metal-binding sites of bovine α-lactalbumin (BLA) in D₂O. Upon addition of apo-BLA to an Eu^III-containing solution, the intrinsic luminescence of the protein is quenched, and the Eu^III luminescence is enhanced. Luminescent titrations point to there being at least two different metal-binding sites in the apo-protein. Curve analysis of the high resolution ⁵D₀←⁷F₀ excitation spectra reveals the existence of three different environments for the bonded Eu^III ions. Two environments, labelled I_a and I_b, give ⁵D₀←⁷F₀ bands very close in energy; they contain four negatively charged groups and are assigned to one site we identify as the calcium-binding site. Site I is protected from solvent influences and is somewhat rigid, since it displays selectivity towards lanthanide ions. The origin of the two similar environments I_a and I_b could not be determined unambiguously. The third environment is ascribed to a nonspecific metal-binding site in which the Eu^III ion is more exposed to the solvent (site II). It is sequentially populated after saturation of site I, and its population is pH-dependent. The affinity constant of Eu^III for this site was estimated from the excitation spectra: log K₂^app ? 3.5(1). Assignment of the metal binding sites has been facilitated by comparison with model compounds, [Eu(dota)]^? (dota ? 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane N,N′,N″, N?-tetraacetate), [Eu(dtpa)]^2? (dtpa ? diethylenetriamine tetraacetate), and [Eu(bsa)] (bsa ? bovine serum albumin). The usefulness and limits of the use of curve-analysis procedures to unravel the various components of ⁵D₀←⁷F₀ excitation spectra in biological materials are also discussed.     

Chemiluminescence and catalysis of decomposition of dispiro(diadamantane-1,2-dioxetane) in solutions of lanthanide perchlorates

Chemiluminescence (CL) accompanying the decomposition of dispiro(diadamantane-1,2-dioxetane) (1) in acetonitrile solutions of Eu^III, Gd^III, Tb^III, Pr^III, and Ce^III perchlorates was studied. In the presence of Eu^III, Tb^III, and Pr^III ions, the chemiluminescence spectra contain the luminescence bands of these ions. In the cases of Gd^III and Ce^III, the chemiluminescence is caused by deactivation of singlet-excited adamantanone (2). The excitation of the lanthanide ion depends on the existence of suitable energy levels at which intracomplex excitation transfer from the³n,π^* of ketone is possible. Chemiluminescence of1 increases in solutions of Eu^III and Tb^III. The yields of CL and excitation of the lanthanide ions in the decomposition of1 in the1·Eu^III and1\Tb^III complexes were determined: φ_Eu · =0.013 ± 0.003 and φ_Tb · =0.08±0.02. The fact that the efficiency for the population of the⁵D₄-level of Tb^III is higher than that for the⁵D₁ and⁵D₀-levels of Eu^III is related to the difference in the energy gap between the triplet level of2 and the excited levels of the lanthanides. For Part I, see Ref. 1. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 730–735, April, 1997.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Structural Properties of Luminescent Lanthanide Complexes

The crystal structure of the macrobicyclic europium(III) complex [Eu³⁺ ? 1 ]3Cl^? incorporating a N,N′ - dioxide unit has been determined. It confirms the cryptate nature of this species, the included cation being bound to six N- and two O-sites. The efficient shielding of the bound Eu³⁺ ion may be related to the efficient luminescence of this cryptate and points to the role played by the N-oxide sites. To further explore the effect of such binding groups, the two macrocyclic ligands 4 and 5 bearing two bipyridine N,N′ -dioxide lateral arms have been synthesized and their Eu^III and Tb^III complexes prepared.     

Quinoxaline sensitised lanthanide ion luminescence: Syntheses,spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structure of Na{1,4,7-tris[(N-diethyl)carbamoylmethyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-10-(2-methylquinoxaline)}I3 C7H8

The synthesis of a quinoxaline-appended aza-macrocyclic ligand together with corresponding Ln^III complexes are described. The luminescence properties of the complexes show that the quinoxaline unit sensitises both visible (Eu^III) and near-IR (Nd^III and Yb^III) emitting lanthanide ions. UV–Vis absorption and time-resolved photophysical studies together with X-ray structural data suggest that as well as contributing chromophorically, the quinoxaline moiety generally participates in the first coordination sphere of Ln^III. The luminescent pH response of the Eu^III complex is also reported. The form of the steady state spectrum changes profoundly in the pH range 2–12, implying a change in the coordination environment, which was confirmed with time-resolved lifetime measurements that suggest an increase in europium inner sphere hydration at acidic pH.     

Studies on kinetics of complexation of lanthanide α-hydroxycarboxylates with 1,10-phenanthroline

Kinetics of the coordination reaction of lanthanide (La^III, Eu^III) α-hydroxycarboxylates [LnL₃(H₂O)₂] with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) in methanol-water (v/v, 3:2) were studied at 25°C by calorimetric titration. A one-step reaction process in accordance with the rate law has been suggested. The reaction is found to be first order for both lanthanide α-hydroxycarboxylates and phen. We have evaluated rate constants of the reactions. It is found that a linear free energy relationship exists between the stability constants of the lanthanide-α-hydroxycarboxylate-phen ternary complex and the rate constants. It is also found that a linear free energy relationship exists between the rate constants of La-hydroxycarboxylate with phen and the acid strength of α-hydroxy-acid as primary ligand, but the linear free energy relationship does not exist in the Eu-α-hydroxycarboxylate-phen ternary complex. The influence of other factors upon the reaction rate constants was also discussed.     

镧系离子同乙酰水杨酸和1,10-二氮杂菲三元配合物的研究

合成了镧系离子（Ｌｎ＾３＋）同乙酰水杨酸（Ａｓａ）和１．１０－二氮杂菲（Ｐｈｅｎ）的三元配合物并确定其组成为Ｌｎ（ａｓａｌ）３·ｐｈｅｎ。考查了三元配合物的红外光谱、热稳定性和溶解性及其乙醇－水溶液的电子光谱和荧光光谱。     

Sign Reversal of a Large Circularly Polarized Luminescence Signal by the Twisting Motion of a Bidentate Ligand

This work demonstrates sign reversal of large circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) signal based on the hinge‐like twisting motion of a bidentate ligand, 3,3‐bis(diphenylphosphoryl)‐2,2‐bipyridine (BIPYPO), in a cis–trans isomerization of chiral europium(III) complexes. X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed that twisting motion of BIPYPO provides s‐cis and s‐trans geometries of a chiral Eu^III complex containing either tris[3‐(trifluoromethylhydroxymethylene)‐(+)‐camphorate] (D ‐ 1 ) or tris[3‐(heptafluoropropylhydroxymethylene)‐(+)‐camphorate] (D ‐ 2 ). The s‐cis Eu^III complexes show eight‐coordinate geometry around the Eu^III ion, in which the chelate between the phosphoryl oxygen and the Eu^III ion forces the s‐cis geometry of BIPYPO. In contrast, the phosphorus–nitrogen interaction provides a conformational lock for the s‐trans geometry of the BIPYPO ligand, inducing a quasi‐seven‐coordinate Eu^III complex. The difference in coordination geometry causes the sign change of the CPL signals between the s‐cis and s‐trans isomers, whereby the s‐cis and s‐trans isomers of Eu^III complexes exhibit the positive and negative CPL signals, respectively, for the ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ transition. The proportion of the s‐trans‐D ‐ 1 against s‐cis‐D ‐ 1 increases upon changing the solvent from [D₃]acetonitrile to [D₆]acetone, inducing a sign change of the CPL signals. The complexes D ‐ 1 and D ‐ 2 show a biexponential decay with two different lifetimes, suggesting two emitting species, that is, the s‐cis and s‐trans isomers of Eu^III complexes. In both cases, the proportions of the longer lifetime components (τ₁) decrease and instead the shorter lifetime components (τ₂) increase upon changing the solvent from [D₃]acetonitrile to [D₆]acetone.