Eu(III) and Tb(III) luminescence sensitized by thiophenyl-derivatized nitrobenzoato antennas

Thiophenyl-derivatized nitrobenzoic acid ligands have been evaluated as possible sensitizers of Eu(III) and Tb(III) luminescence. The resulting solution and solid-state species were isolated and characterized by luminescence spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The Eu(III) complex with 2-nitro-3-thiophen-3-yl-benzoic acid, 1, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 28.569(3) A, b = 17.7726(18) A, c = 17.7073(18) A, beta= 126.849(2) degrees, and V = 7194.6(13) A3. The Tb(III) complex with this ligand, 2, is isostructural, and its cell parameters are a = 29.755(6) A, b = 18.123(4) A, c = 19.519(4) A, beta= 130.35(3) degrees, and V = 8021(3) A3. Eu(III) crystallizes with 3-nitro-2-thiophen-3-yl-benzoic acid as a triclinic complex, 3, in the space group P1 with a = 11.045(2) A, b = 12.547(3) A, c = 15.500(3) A, alpha = 109.06(3)degrees, beta = 94.79(3) degrees, gamma = 107.72(3) degrees. and V = 1893.5(7) A3. With the ligand 5-nitro-2-thiophen-3-yl-benzoic acid, Eu(III) yields another molecular compound, 4, triclinic P1, with a = 10.649(2) A, b = 14.009(3) A, c = 15.205(3) A, alpha= 112.15(3) degrees, beta = 100.25(3) degrees, gamma = 106.96(3) degrees, and V = 1900.5(7) A3. All compounds dissolve in water and methanol, and the methanolic solutions are luminescent. The solution species have a metal ion-to-ligand ratio of 1:1. The quantum yields have been determined to be in the range of 0.9-3.1% for Eu(III) and 4.7-9.8% for Tb(III). The highest values of these correspond to the most intense luminescence reported for Ln(III) solutions with this type of sensitizer. The lifetimes of luminescence are in the range of 248.3-338.9 micros for Eu(III) and 208.6-724.9 micros for Tb(III). The stability constants are in the range of log 11 = 2.73-4.30 for Eu(III) and 3.34-4.18 for Tb(III) and, along with the energy migration pathways, are responsible for the reported efficiency of sensitization.     

Highly luminescent, triple- and quadruple-stranded, dinuclear Eu, Nd, and Sm(III) lanthanide complexes based on bis-diketonate ligands

The bis(beta-diketone) ligands 1,3-bis(3-phenyl-3-oxopropanoyl)benzene, H(2)L(1) and 1,3-bis(3-phenyl-3-oxopropanoyl) 5-ethoxy-benzene, H(2)L(2), have been prepared for the examination of dinuclear lanthanide complex formation and investigation of their properties as sensitizers for lanthanide luminescence. The ligands bear two conjugated diketonate binding sites linked by a 1,3-phenylene spacer. The ligands bind to lanthanide(III) or yttrium(III) ions to form neutral homodimetallic triple stranded complexes [M(2)L(1)(3)] where M = Eu, Nd, Sm, Y, Gd and [M(2)L(2)(3)], where M = Eu, Nd or anionic quadruple-stranded dinuclear lanthanide units, [Eu(2)L(1)(4)](2-). The crystal structure of the free ligand H(2)L(1) has been determined and shows a twisted arrangement of the two binding sites around the 1,3-phenylene spacer. The dinuclear complexes have been isolated and fully characterized. Detailed NMR investigations of the complexes confirm the formation of a single complex species, with high symmetry; the complexes show clear proton patterns with chemical shifts of a wide range due to the lanthanide paramagnetism. Addition of Pirkle's reagent to solutions of the complexes leads to splitting of the peaks, confirming the chiral nature of the complexes. Electrospray and MALDI mass spectrometry have been used to identify complex formulation and characteristic isotope patterns for the different lanthanide complexes have been obtained. The complexes have high molar absorption coefficients (around 13 x 10(4) M(-1)cm(-1)) and display strong visible (red or pink) or NIR luminescence upon irradiation at the ligand band around 350 nm, depending on the choice of the lanthanide. Emission quantum yield experiments have been performed and the luminescence signals of the dinuclear complexes have been found to be up to 11 times more intense than the luminescence signals of the mononuclear analogues. The emission quantum yields and the luminescence lifetimes are determined to be 5% and 220 micros for [Eu(2)L(1)(3)], 0.16% and 13 micros for [Sm(2)L(1)(3)], and 0.6% and 1.5 micros for [Nd(2)L(1)(3)]. The energy level of the ligand triplet state was determined from the 77 K spectrum of [Gd(2)L(1)(3)]. The bis-diketonate ligand is shown to be an efficient sensitizer, particularly for Sm and Nd. Photophysical studies of the europium complexes at room temperature and 77 K show the presence of a thermally activated deactivation pathway, which we attribute to ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT). Quenching of the luminescence from this level seems to be operational for the Eu(III) complex but not for complexes of Sm(III) and Nd(III), which exhibit long lifetimes. The quadruple-stranded europium complex has been isolated and characterized as the piperidinium salt of [Eu(2)L(1)(4)](2-). Compared with the triple-stranded Eu(III) complex in the solid state, the quadruple-stranded complex displays a more intense emission signal with a distinct emission pattern indicating the higher symmetry of the quadruple-stranded complex.     

Aryl-bridged 1-hydroxypyridin-2-one: sensitizer ligands for Eu(III)

The synthesis, crystal structure, solution stability, and photophysical properties of an aryl group bridging two 1-hydroxypyridin-2-one units complexed to Eu(III) are reported. The results show that this backbone unit increases the rigidity of the ensuing complex, and also the conjugation of the ligand. As a result of the latter, the singlet absorption energy is decreased, along with the energy of the lowest excited triplet state. The resulting efficiency of sensitization for the Eu(III) ion is influenced by these phenomena, yielding an overall quantum yield of 6.2% in aqueous solution. The kinetic parameters arising from the luminescence data reveal an enhanced nonradiative decay rate for this compound when compared to previously reported aliphatic bridges.     

Engineering of highly luminescent lanthanide tags suitable for protein labeling and time-resolved luminescence imaging

The synthesis of a new ligand LH(4) based on a glutamic acid skeleton bis-functionalized on its nitrogen atom by 6-methylene-6'-carboxy-2,2'-bipyridine chromophoric units is described. UV-vis spectrophotometric titrations revealed the formation of 1:1 M:L complexes with lanthanide(III) cations, and complexation of LH(4) with equimolar amounts of hydrated LnCl(3) salts (Ln = Eu, Gd, and Tb) gave water-soluble and stable complexes of the general formula [LnL(H(2)O)]Na, which were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, (1)H NMR (Ln = Eu), and mass spectrometry. The conditional stability constant for formation of the [EuL(H(2)O)]Na complex was determined by competitive complexation experiments to be log K = 16.5 +/- 0.6 in 0.01 M TRIS/HCl buffer (pH = 7.0). In water solution, the [EuL(H(2)O)]Na and [TbL(H(2)O)]Na complexes were highly luminescent with quantum yields of 8% and 31%, respectively, despite the presence of ca. one water molecule in the first coordination sphere of the metal ions. Activation of the appended carboxylate function of the glutamate moiety in the form of an N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester allows for the covalent linking of the complexes to primary amino groups of biological compounds. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was labeled with both Eu or Tb complexes, and the Ln-BSA conjugates were characterized by UV-vis absorption and emission spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Labeling ratios (number of complex molecules per BSA) of ca. 8:1 and 7:1 were established for Eu-BSA and Tb-BSA, respectively. The suitability of the tagged compound for use in bioanalytical time-resolved luminescence microscopy was established by comparison with fluorescein-labeled probes.     

Lanthanide luminescence quenching as a detection method in ion chromatography. Chromate in surface and drinking water

Dynamic quenching of Eu(III) and Tb(III) luminescence by inorganic anions as a detection method in ion chromatography was investigated. To obtain a high luminescence intensity, lanthanide(III) complexes are formed with ligands which make indirect excitation of the ions possible. Only a few anions (e.g., nitrite, chromate) induce efficient dynamic luminescence quenching. Chromate is an efficient quencher of Tb-acac luminescence. Samples of tap water and surface water, spiked with chromate, were injected into a high-performance liquid chromatographic system with post-column addition of the luminescent complex. In this way, a detection limit of 1.1 . 10(-7) M (13 ppb) of chromate could be obtained.     

Structure, spectral and luminescence properties of compounds of europium(III) with nicotinic acid and enrofloxacin

The compounds of Eu(III) with nicotinic acid and enrofloxacin are synthesized. Their composition and structure are proved by the data of elemental analysis, IR and luminescence spectroscopy, powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction. By single crystal X-ray diffraction, the structure of the compound of Eu with nicotinic acid is identified as a centrosymmetric dimer with 4 carboxylate bridges of the composition Eu₂(C₆H₄NO₂)₆·4H₂O. The Stark structure of the ⁵ D ₀-⁷ F _j transitions in the mixed-ligand compounds of Eu(III) with nicotinic acid and enrofloxacin is determined. The bands of IR spectra are assigned; the conclusion about the bidentate coordination of ligands is made.     

Brilliant Sm, Eu, Tb, and Dy chiral lanthanide complexes with strong circularly polarized luminescence

The synthesis, characterization, and luminescent behavior of trivalent Sm, Eu, Dy, and Tb complexes of two enantiomeric, octadentate, chiral, 2-hydroxyisophthalamide ligands are reported. These complexes are highly luminescent in solution. Functionalization of the achiral parent ligand with a chiral 1-phenylethylamine substituent on the open face of the complex in close proximity to the metal center yields complexes with strong circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) activity. This appears to be the first example of a system utilizing the same ligand architecture to sensitize four different lanthanide cations and display CPL activity. The luminescence dissymmetry factor, g(lum), recorded for the Eu(III) complex is one of the highest values reported, and this is the first time the CPL effect has been demonstrated for a Sm(III) complex with a chiral ligand. The combination of high luminescence intensity with CPL activity should enable new bioanalytical applications of macromolecules in chiral environments.     

Calix[4]azacrowns as novel molecular scaffolds for the generation of visible and near-infrared lanthanide luminescence

Two calix[4]azacrowns, capped with two aminopolyamide bridges, were used as ligands for the complexation of lanthanide ions [Eu(III), Tb(III), Nd(III), Er(III), La(III)]. The formation of 1:2 and 1:1 complexes was observed, and stability constants, determined by UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, were found to be generally on the order of log beta(11) approximately 5-6 and log beta(12) approximately 10. The structural changes of the ligands upon La(III) complexation were probed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The two ligands were observed to have opposite fluorescence behaviors, namely, fluorescence enhancement (via blocking of photoinduced electron transfer from amine groups) or quenching (via lanthanide-chromophore interactions) upon metal ion complexation. Long-lived lanthanide luminescence was sensitized by excitation in the pi,pi band of the aromatic moieties of the ligands. The direct involvement of the antenna triplet state was demonstrated via quenching of the ligand phosphorescence by Tb(III). Generally, Eu(III) luminescence was weak (Phi(lum) 相似文献   

Aromatic polyaminocarboxylate ligands for energy transfer luminescence measurements of lanthanide ions in aqueous solutions

The promising ligand candidates for the energy transfer luminescence measurements of lanthanide (Ln) chelates on aqueous matrices are first proposed. The ligands are; 2[(2-amino-5-methyl-phenoxy)methyl]-6-methoxy-8-aminoquinoline-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (Quin 2), 1,2-bis(2-amino-phenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (BAPTA), and 1,2-bis(2-amino-5-fluoro-phenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (F-BAPTA). The Ln-chelates of these aromatic polyaminocarboxylates show the sensitized emission which results from efficient ligand-centered light absorption, and the interesting selectivity is seen; BAPTA and F-BAPTA form the luminescent chelates only with Tb(III) and Dy(III) ions, whereas the emission from Sm(III) and Eu(III) ions is greatly sensitized with Quin 2. The sufficient emission intensity can be obtained even in slightly alkaline aqueous solutions without any addition of surfactants or organic solvents. These octadentate ligands are fairly capable of shielding central Ln ions from quenching by surrounding water molecules. The luminescence enhancement factors are 1600 for Tb(III) ion with BAPTA (em.544 nm) and 1380 for Eu(III) ion with Quin 2 (em. 615 nm), respectively, being relative to their aqueous chloride solutions.     

Chiral macrocyclic lanthanide complexes derived from (R)-2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl: X-ray crystal structure and luminescence studies

The template condensation of (R)-2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl and 2,6-diformylpyridine in the presence of lanthanide(III) nitrates was used to obtain new Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Tb(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Er(III), Tm(III) and Yb(III) complexes of the chiral hexaaza Schiff base macrocycle L. The complexes have been characterised on the basis of ESI MS spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The X-ray crystal structure of Eu(III) complex reveals highly twisted helical conformation of the macrocycle L. The 10-coordinate Eu(III) ion is coordinated by all six nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle and two additional bidentate nitrate anions. Emission and excitation spectra as well as luminescence decay time measurements (at 295 and 77 K) were used to characterize the photophysical properties of the Eu(III), Gd(III) and Yb(III) complexes in the solid-state. Energy transfer from ligand to the Eu(III) and Yb(III) ions has been demonstrated and thermally activated back energy transfer processes have been analyzed.     

From structural properties of the EuIII complex with ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (H8EDTMP) towards biomedical applications

Crystals of Eu(III) with ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (H(8)EDTMP) and with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (H(4)EDTA) have been synthesized in the same experimental conditions and their X-ray analyses have been performed. The EDTMP ligand wraps the Eu(III) ion in a fashion similar to its carboxylic analogue, EDTA, i.e. coordinating through two nitrogen atoms and four oxygen atoms in such a way that only one oxygen atom from each phosphonate group is bonded to the central ion. The coordination sphere is completed by two oxygen atoms of the bidentate carbonate anion in the case of the Eu(III)-EDTMP complex, whereas the inner sphere of the Eu(III)-EDTA crystal is completed by three water molecules. Spectroscopic studies (UV-Vis and (31)P NMR spectra) of Eu(III)-EDTMP solutions at controlled pH showed that the replacement of inner sphere water molecules and/or OH hydroxy groups by a carbonate anion in the Eu(III)-EDTMP complex at physiological pH results in the formation of [Eu(EDTMP)(CO(3))](7-) species which is thermodynamically stable and kinetically inert. The affinity of the carbonate anion towards the Eu(III)-EDTMP species was studied by analysis of f-f intensities and luminescence decay rates. The dissociation constant of the Eu(III)-EDTMP-carbonate complex was found to be approximately 43 mM. The presented results may be helpful in understanding the role played by the (153)Sm(III)-EDTMP complex known as Quadramet in the seeking of metastatic tissue in bones as well as possibly giving some premises for future ligand design of these types of complexes with lanthanide radionuclides.     

The luminescence response of Eu(III)-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate complexes upon preresonant excitation with femtosecond laser pulses

The luminescence of thenoyltrifluoroacetonate (TTA) coordination complexes of trivalent europium ion (Eu(III)) in aqueous solutions and in solid-state polymeric films is probed upon single- and two-photon preresonant excitation with Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser. Particularly, diamine-liganded Eu(III)(TTA)₃ and poly(oxyethylene phosphate)tris(β-diketonate)Eu(III) complexes are examined aiming their possible applications as luminescent labels for sensing and imaging of biological molecules. Even at a pre-resonance, the excitation of these compounds with high-intensity, broadband light of frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser centered around 400 nm results in a luminescence response suitable for fluorometric applications.     

Syntheses, structures, near-infrared and visible luminescence, and magnetic properties of lanthanide-organic frameworks with an imidazole-containing flexible ligand

Reactions of tripodal ligand 1,3,5-tris(imidazole-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (L) with lanthanide metal salts and triethyl orthoformate led to the formation of six bowl-like dinuclear compounds [Ln2(L)(HL)(NO3)6(HCOO)].3CH3OH (Ln = Gd 1, Tb 2, Dy 3, Er 4, Yb 5, and Eu 6). The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that six complexes are isomorphous and isostructural and that the dinuclear molecules are further connected by hydrogen bonds and pi-pi interactions, resulting in 3D channel-like structures. The luminescence properties have been studied, and the results showed that the Tb(III) (2) and Eu(III) (6) complexes exhibited sensitized luminescence in the visible region and their luminescence lifetimes in powder and DMSO-d6 solution are in the range of milliseconds. The Yb(III) complex (5) emits typical near-infrared luminescence in DMSO-d6 solution. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1-6 showed that complex 1 (Gd) is nearly a paramagnet and complexes 2 (Tb), 3 (Dy), and 4 (Er) show the ferromagnetic coupling between magnetic centers, whereas the depopulation of the Stark levels in complexes 5 (Yb) and 6 (Eu) leads to a continuous decrease in (chi M)T when the sample is cooled from 300 to 1.8 K.     

Use of luminescence probing for the study of the interaction of polytitanasiloxane with trivalent rare earth ions

Luminescent probing methods were employed to investigate the interaction of the Ti-O chains of polytitanasiloxane with europium ions in the mixture of ethanol and water. The UV-vis absorption, the luminescence intensity, and the luminescence lifetimes of the Eu3+ ions in PTS solutions were all found to increase with the increase of TBT/TEOS molar ratio. The results indicated that the incorporation of TBT can result in the increase of absorption energy of the Ti-O group by near-UV excitation and in the increase of energy transfer to the metal ion, and that the Ti-O chains due to the site binding of Eu3+ ions can expel six to nine solvent molecules from the first coordination solvation shell of the ion. The investigation of the energy transfer from europium to neodymium ions in polytitanasiloxane solutions revealed the formation of aggregates consisting of seven rare earth ions (together with the polytitanasiloxane countercharges).     

Synthesis of Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes with novel pyridine dicarboxamide derivatives and their luminescence properties

A novel ligand, N2,N6-bis[2-(3-methylpyridyl)]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide (L2) and the corresponding Eu(III) and Tb(III) hydrochlorate complexes have been synthesized and characterized in detail based on elemental analysis, IR and NMR. The crystal and molecular structure of the complexes was determined by X-ray crystallography. The Eu(III) and Tb(III) ions were found to coordinate to the amido nitrogen atoms and pyridine nitrogen atoms. The luminescence properties of lanthanide complexes in solid state, in different solutions and in different pH value were investigated. The result shows that Tb(III) complexes exhibit more efficient luminescence than Eu(III) complexes, and the ligand (L2) is an excellent sensitizer to Tb(III) ion.     

Speciation of Eu(III) in an anion exchange separation system with LiCl-H2O/alcohol mixed media studied by time-resolved

Coordination states of Eu(III) in anion exchange resin (AG 1X8) systems with LiCl-H₂O/alcohol mixed media were determined from the luminescence lifetimes and the emission spectra of Eu(III). The sorption equilibrium of Eu(III) was discussed on the basis of the correlation between the distribution coefficients and the coordination states in the solution and resin phases. The sorption of Eu(III) was mainly caused by the formation of an anionic Eu(III)-chloro complex in the resin phase, which was enhanced by the decrease of 'free' water activity due to the addition of alcohol. The effect of ethanol added was larger than that of methanol.     

Thermal and luminescence characterization of lanthanide 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylates series

The lanthanide 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylates series of the formulas Ln₂(ndc)₃·nH₂O, where Ln = lanthanides from La(III) to Lu(III); ndc - C₁₀H₆(COO)₂²⁻; n = 4, 4.5 or 5 have been prepared by the precipitation method. All obtained products were examined and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, simultaneous thermal analyses TG-DSC and TG-FTIR, X-Ray diffraction patterns as well as luminescence measurements. The crystalline compounds form three isostructural groups: Ce-Sm; La and Eu-Dy; Ho-Lu. In all complexes, the ndc²⁻ ligand appears in the deprotonated form. Heating of the complexes resulted in the multi-steps decomposition process. The dehydration process leads to the formation of stable crystalline Ln₂ndc₃ compounds which further decompose to the corresponding lanthanide oxides (air atmosphere). In argon atmosphere they decompose with releasing of water, carbon oxides and naphthalene molecules. The luminescence properties of Eu(III), Nd(III), Tb(III) and Er(III) complexes were investigated. The complexes of Eu(III) and Tb(III) emitted red and green light when excited by ultraviolet light whereas Nd(III) and Er(III) display emissions in the NIR region.     

Amine-templated polymeric lanthanide formates: synthesis, characterization, and applications in luminescence and magnetism

The novel polymeric formates of general formula [(Fmd)Ln(III)(HCOO)(4)](∞) (Fmd(+) = NH(2)-CH(+)-NH(2); Ln = Eu (1), Gd (2), Tb (3), Dy (4)] were synthesized through solvothermal methods in formamide solutions. The compounds are isotructural; they crystallize in the orthorhombic C222(1) chiral space group. The coordination geometry at the metal centers is square antiprismatic (coordination number eight), with each formate ligand bridging adjacent lanthanide ions. The overall negative three-dimensional (3D) framework charge is balanced by the formamidinium cations sitting inside the channels along the a axis, forming extensive N-H···O hydrogen bonding with the surrounding cage. All the compounds have been characterized through single-crystal/powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and TG-MS analysis. Finally, their luminescence and magnetic properties have been assessed, leading to remarkable emission intensities, especially for the Tb(III) compound (Φ = 0.83), with corresponding lifetime decays in the micro (Dy) and millisecond (Tb, Eu) time scale. A weak but sizable antiferromagnetic interaction has been observed for the Gd(III) derivative.     

Sensitization of lanthanoid luminescence by organic and inorganic ligands in lanthanoid-organic-polyoxometalates

The reaction of terbium and europium salts with the lacunary polyxometalate (POM) [As(2)W(19)O(67)(H(2)O)](14-) and 2-picolinic acid (picH) affords the ternary lanthanoid-organic-polyoxometalate (Ln-org-POM) complexes [Tb(2)(pic)(H(2)O)(2)(B-β-AsW(8)O(30))(2)(WO(2)(pic))(3)](10-) (1), [Tb(8)(pic)(6)(H(2)O)(22)(B-β-AsW(8)O(30))(4)(WO(2)(pic))(6)](12-) (2), and [Eu(8)(pic)(6)(H(2)O)(22)(B-β-AsW(8)O(30))(4)(WO(2)(pic))(6)](12-) (3). A detailed synthetic investigation has established the conditions required to isolate pure bulk samples of the three complexes as the mixed salts H(0.5)K(8.5)Na[1]·30H(2)O, K(4)Li(4)H(4)[2]·58H(2)O, and Eu(1.66)K(7)[3]·54H(2)O, each of which has been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 2 and 3 are isostructural and can be considered to be composed of two molecules of 1 linked through an inversion center with four additional picolinate-chelated lanthanoid centers. When irradiated with a laboratory UV lamp at room temperature, compounds K(4)Li(4)H(4)[2]·58H(2)O and Eu(1.66)K(7)[3]·54H(2)O visibly luminesce green and red, respectively, while compound H(0.5)K(8.5)Na[1]·30H(2)O is not luminescent. A variable temperature photophysical investigation of the three compounds has revealed that both the organic picolinate ligands and the inorganic POM ligands sensitize the lanthanoid(III) luminescence, following excitation with UV light. However, considerably different temperature dependencies are observed for Tb(III) versus Eu(III) through the two distinct sensitization pathways.     

Direct excitation luminescence spectroscopy of Eu(III) complexes of 1,4,7-tris(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7,10- tetraazacyclododecane derivatives and kinetic studies of their catalytic cleavage of an RNA analog

The macrocycles 1,4,7-tris(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetrazacyclododecane (1), 1,4,7-tris[(N-ethyl)carbamoylmethyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (2), 1,4,7-tris[(N,N-diethyl)carbamoylmethyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (3) and their Eu(III) complexes are prepared. Studies using direct Eu(III) excitation luminescence spectroscopy show that all three Eu(III) complexes exhibit only one predominant isomer with two bound waters under neutral to mildly basic conditions (Eu(X)(H(2)O)(2) for X = 1-3). There are no detectable ligand ionizations over the pH range 5.0-8.0 for Eu(3), 5.0-8.5 for Eu(2) or 5.0-9.5 for Eu(1). The three Eu(III) complexes show a linear dependence of second-order rate constants for the cleavage of 4-nitrophenyl-2-hydroxyethylphosphate (HpPNP) on pH in the range 6.5-8.0 for Eu(3), 7.0-8.5 for Eu(2) and 7.0-9.0 for Eu(1). This pH-rate profile is consistent with the Eu(III) complex-substrate complex being converted to the active form by loss of a proton and with Eu(III) water pK(a) values that are higher than 8.0 for Eu(3), 8.5 for Eu(2) and 9.0 for Eu(1). Inhibition studies show that Eu() binds strongly to the dianionic ligand methylphosphate (K(d) = 0.28 mM), and more weakly to diethylphosphate (K(d) = 7.5 mM), consistent with a catalytic role of the Eu(III) complexes in stabilizing the developing negative charge on the phosphorane transition state.