A bridge to coordination isomer selection in lanthanide(III) DOTA-tetraamide complexes

Interest in macrocyclic lanthanide complexes such as DOTA is driven largely through interest in their use as contrast agents for MRI. The lanthanide tetraamide derivatives of DOTA have shown considerable promise as PARACEST agents, taking advantage of the slow water exchange kinetics of this class of complex. We postulated that water exchange in these tetraamide complexes could be slowed even further by introducing a group to sterically encumber the space above the water coordination site, thereby hindering the departure and approach of water molecules to the complex. The ligand 8O2-bridged DOTAM was synthesized in a 34% yield from cyclen. It was found that the lanthanide complexes of this ligand did not possess a water molecule in the inner coordination sphere of the bound lanthanide. The crystal structure of the ytterbium complex revealed that distortions to the coordination sphere were induced by the steric constraints imposed on the complex by the bridging unit. The extent of the distortion was found to increase with increasing ionic radius of the lanthanide ion, eventually resulting in a complete loss of symmetry in the complex. Because this ligand system is bicyclic, the conformation of each ring in the system is constrained by that of the other; in consequence, inclusion of the bridging unit in the complexes means only a twisted square, antiprismatic coordination geometry is observed for lanthanide complexes of 8O2-bridged DOTAM.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of lanthanide(III) nitrate complexes of a tetraiminodiphenol macrocycle in the solid state and in solution

The lanthanide(III) complexes [Ln(LH2)(NO3)3] 1-11(La-Er), 15(Y) and [Ln(LH2)(NO3)2(H2O)](NO3) 12-14 (Tm-Lu) of the tetraiminodiphenolate macrocycle L2- have been prepared by the transmetallation reaction between [Pb(LH2)(NO3)2] and Ln(NO3)3.nH2O. In these compounds, the uncoordinated imino nitrogens are protonated and are hydrogen bonded to the phenolate oxygens. The X-ray crystal structures of the La (1), Ho (10) and Lu (14) compounds have been determined. Compounds 1 and 10, in which all the three nitrates are bound in bidentate fashion, are isostructural with distorted bicapped square antiprism geometry for the metal centre. In [Lu(LH2)(NO3)2(H2O)](NO3) 14, of the two metal bound nitrates one is bidentate and the other is unidentate, while the metal centre obtains a distorted square antiprism coordination environment. Proton NMR spectra of the paramagnetic lanthanide complexes have been studied in detail. Contributions of contact and pseudo-contact shifts to the lanthanide induced isotropic shifts (LIS) of the macrocycle protons have been separated and good agreement has been obtained between the calculated LIS values and the experimentally observed values. Analysis of the NMR data has led us to conclude that all the complexes in dimethyl sulfoxide solution attain similar configurations. The absorption and emission spectral characteristic of several compounds have been investigated. The complexes of samarium (5) and europium (6) on photoexcitation at 400 nm exhibit well-resolved luminescence spectra at 77 K both in the solid state and a methanol-ethanol (1 : 4) glassy matrix. For the terbium (8) and dysprosium (9) complexes, however, the observed luminescence peaks are less resolved and weak in intensity.     

Crystal structures of some lanthanide(III) complexes with acylhydrazone and their coordination chemistry

Three new lanthanide(III) complexes with N-(2-propionic acid)-salicyloylhydrazone (H₂L, C₁₀H₁₀N₂O₄) ligand [La(HL)₂(NO₃)(H₂O)₂]₃ ·4H₂O(I), [Gd(HL)₃] · 2(C₂H₅)₃ N(II) and [Er(L)(HL)(H₂O)₂] · 2H₂O(III) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV, and molar conductivity. The crystal structures of three complexes have been determined by X-ray single-crystal diffractometer. In complex I, the La³⁺ ion is ten-coordinated by two tridentate ligands, one bidentate nitrate, and two water molecules. In complex II, the Gd³⁺ ion has a coordination number of nine by three tridentate ligands. In complex III, the Er³⁺ ion is eight-coordinated by two tridentate ligands and two water molecules. In all structures, tridentate ligands are coordinated by carboxyl O and acyl O atoms and azomethine N atom to form two stable five-membered rings sharing one side in the keto mode as indicated by the results of crystal structures and infrared spectral analysis.     

Fluorescence of lanthanide(III) complexes in aqueous solutions the influence ofpH and solution composition

The fluorescence of lanthanide ions and of their complexes withEDTA,NTA andAA in aqueous solutions was investigated. It has been shown that the fluorescence band intensities of Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III) and Dy(III) complexes depend on thepH and the complexing agent concentration. Fluorescence measurements were used to characterise the lanthanide complexes formed and an attempt was made to interpret the results theoretically.

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Untersuchung der Fluoreszenz von Lösungen einiger Lanthaniden(III)-Komplex in Abhängigkeit vonpH und Zusammenhang der Lösung

Zusammenfassung Die Fluoreszenz von wäßrigen Lösungen der Ionen und Komplexe einiger Lanthaniden mit Ethylendiamintetraessigsäure, Nitrilotriessigsäure und Essigsäure wurde untersucht. Der Einfluß vonpH und Konzentration der Komplexbildner auf die Intensität der Fluoreszenzbanden von Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III) und Dy(III) wurde bewiesen. Die Fluoreszenzmessungen wurden für die Charakterisierung von Lösungen der Lanthanidenkomplexe genützt und ein Versuch der theoretischen Interpretation der beobachteten Änderungen im Spektrum wurde unternommen.

     

Spectroscopic studies of iron(III) complexes of D-saccharose and D-glucose in the solid state and in solution

Iron(III) complexes of D-saccharose and D-glucose were prepared. The compositions of the complexes were determined by standard analytical methods. The Mössbauer spectra reflected the presence of high-spin iron(III) in the polynuclear species. EPR spectroscopy demonstrated antiferromagnetically coupled iron(III) centers within the solid complexes. The¹³C NMR spectra indicated the presence of a mixture of coordination isomers of iron(III) complexes containing the sugar ligand in differently bound forms.This work is dedicated to the memory of Dr. L. Korecz.     

Structural studies on new diphenyl formazans and their lanthanide(III) complexes

Summary Potentiometric, u.v., i.r., n.m.r. and t.g.a. studies have been carried out on 1,5-bis(o-carboxyphenyl)-3-acetyl-formazan and 1-(o-carboxyphenyl-5-(o-hydroxyphenyl)-3-acetylformazan and their complexes with trivalent lanthanide ions. The ionization constants of formazans and the formation constants of their complexes have been determined potentiometrically by the Bjerrum-Calvin method (Irving and Rossotti modification). Complexation has also been studied by a conductimetric titration method.     

Paramagnetic NMR shift,spectroscopic and molecular modeling studies of lanthanide(III)-morin complexes

Studies on nine-coordinate lanthanide complexes of morin are described. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, UV–Vis spectra, IR spectra, thermal analysis and NMR spectra. Molecular modeling studies were also carried out. The complexes are non-electrolytes in DMSO. TGA showed anhydrous nature of the complexes. The electronic spectra of the complexes were recorded in methanol. ¹H NMR spectra of lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium and dysprosium complexes have been studied in DMSO-d₆. The complexes do not dissociate in DMSO and retain their coordination. ¹H NMR spectra of paramagnetic and diamagnetic complexes exhibit downfield as well as upfield shifts of morin resonances that shows change in geometry during coordination.     

Synthesis,spectral and pharmacological studies on lanthanide(III) complexes of 3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylic acid

Complexes of cerium(III), lanthanum(III) and neodymium(III) with 3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylic acid (H₃pdc) were synthesized and their compositions determined by elemental analysis. To identify the binding of Ce(III), La(III) and Nd(III) with H₃pdc, detailed vibrational analysis was performed comparing experimental vibrational spectra of the ligand and its Ln(III) complexes with theoretically predicted and with literature data from related compounds. Significant differences in the IR and Raman spectra of the complexes were observed as compared to spectra of the ligand. The ligand and the complexes were tested for cytotoxic activities on the chronic myeloid leukemia derived K-562, overexpressing the BCR-ABL fusion protein and the non-Hodgkin lymphoma derived DOHH-2, characterized by an overexpression of the antiapoptotic protein bcl-2 cell lines. The results indicate that the tested compounds exerted considerable cytotoxic activity upon the evaluated cell lines in a concentration dependent manner; we constructed dose-response curves and calculated corresponding IC₅₀ values. The lanthanide complexes exhibited potent cytotoxic activity, even more than cisplatin towards K-562 and DOHH-2 cell lines. In order to elucidate some of the mechanistic aspects of the observed cytotoxic effects, we evaluated whether the established cytotoxicity of the most active complex La(H₂pdc) is related to its capacity to induce cell death through apoptosis.     

Photo and electroluminescence of lanthanide(III) complexes

Major classes of coordination compounds used as electroluminescent materials are surveyed, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The strategy of the directed synthesis of lanthanide(III) complexes promising for use as electroluminescent materials is formulated. The results of studies dealing with the design of electroluminescent devices based on europium(III), terbium(III), and thulium(III) complexes are considered.     

Multinuclear NMR study of lanthanide(III) complexes of 1,2-PDTA in aqueous solution

The complexation of lanthanide(III) cations with 1,2-propanediaminetetraacetate (1,2-PDTA) in aqueous solution has been investigated by ¹⁰Na, ³⁵Cl, ²H and ¹¹O NMR shift measurements. It has been shown that the contact shifts are dominant for ¹⁷O, ¹⁶Cl and ²H (only for the heavier lanthanide series) and the pseudocontact shifts are dominant for ²⁵Na. It is suggested that the 1,2-PDTA ligand is bound pentadentately via the two nitrogens and the three carboxylates for the lighter lanthanide complexes, hexdentately via the two nitrogens and the four carboxylates for the heavier ones. The numbers of the water coordinated were determined. The small amount of chloride anion in inner coordination sphere was observed.     

Solid state and solution structures of the lanthanide complexes with cryptand (2.2.1): Crystallographic and NMR studies of a dimeric praseodymium (2.2.1) cryptate containing two μ-hydroxo bridges

A dimeric lanthanide cryptate was obtained by the addition of an excess of cryptand (2.2.1) to a slightly hydrated solution of the monomeric praseodymium (2.2.1) perchlorate complex in acetonitrile. This new lanthanide compound is centrosymmetric and displays the space groupP2₁/n. The encryptated metal ions are nine-coordinated, they are bonded to all the heteroatoms of a (2.2.1) ligand and they are linked to each other by two -hydroxo bridges. The hydroxyl groups are relegating the cryptands to both end of the dimer and the praseodymium ions are less effectively accomodated in the macrocylic internal cavities than in the case of the monomeric Pr(2.2.1) complex. The formation of both the monomeric and the dimeric lanthanide complexes is readily observed by proton NMR. Supplementary data relevant to this article are deposited with the British Library Lending Division as Supplementary Publication No. 82050 (24 pages).Presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Inclusion Phenomena and the Third International Symposium on Cyclodextrins, Lancaster, U.K., 20–25 July 1986.     

X-ray studies of lanthanide(III) complexes with 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoate anion

Polycrystalline complexes of lanthanide(III) with 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid were obtained as hydrated compounds of general formula Ln(C₈H₇O₄)₃?·?nH₂O. After slow recrystallization we obtained single crystals of complexes and determined their structures. Praseodymium(III) and neodymium(III) form isostructural dihydrated complexes [Ln(C₈H₇O₄)₃(H₂O)₂], which crystallize in the triclinic system, space group P 1. Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Ho(III) and Tb(III) compounds are hexahydrates and also crystallize in the triclinic system, space group P 1. Dihydrated compounds form polymeric chains with metal centres linked by oxygen atoms of bridging carboxylates. Each metal ion is coordinated by chelating carboxylic group and two water molecules. Complexes of the second isostructural group form dinuclear units [Ln₂(C₈H₇O₄)₆(H₂O)₄]?·?8H₂O. Lanthanide(III) ions are linked by oxygen atoms of two chelating–bridging carboxylate groups. In the dimeric structure each metal ion coordinates additionally two chelating carboxylic groups and two water molecules.     

Influence of anionic functions on the coordination and photophysical properties of lanthanide(III) complexes with tridentate bipyridines

A series of four ligands based on a 5'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridyl framework substituted in the 6 position by a carboxylic acid, a phosphonic acid, a monoethyl ester phosphonic acid, or a diethyl ester phosphonic acid are described. The pK(a) values of all ligands and their assignments are determined by a combination of UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopy. The ability of the tridentate ligands to form complexes with trivalent lanthanide cations (Ln = La, Nd, Eu, and Lu) in buffered water solutions (Tris-HCl, pH = 7.4) is studied by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and (1)H NMR. While the two ester ligands display a weak coordination ability toward lanthanide cations, the acid ligands form stable complexes with 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 Ln/L ratios. A weak selectivity is observed for the middle of the lanthanide series, and the complexes of the phosphonic acid derivative are up to 2 orders of magnitude more stable than those of the carboxylic acid ligand. Photophysical properties of the free phosphonic and carboxylic acid ligands and of their complexes with La, Eu, Gd, Tb, and Lu are investigated in buffered aqueous solutions both at room temperature and 77 K. An efficient ligand-to-metal energy transfer is observed for both the Eu and Tb complexes. Despite a relatively large energy gap between the ligand-centered (3)pipi* and the Eu((5)D(0)) or Tb((5)D(4)) emitting states, the metal-centered luminescence is well sensitized with quantum yields reaching up to 45.5 and 42.2% for the Tb 1:3 complexes with carboxylic and phosphonic acid ligands, respectively.     

Solid state decomposition studies on metal salicylates. Thermal decomposition of some lanthanide salicylato complexes

The thermal stability and mechanism of thermal decomposition in air of the four lanthanide complexes of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid have been studied by TG, DSC, IR and MS techniques. An analysis of the prepared compounds show that Pr(III), Nd(III) and Tb(III) form anhydrous salicylato (Hsal)⁻ complexes while the corresponding holmium compound contains four water molecules. The TG curves show two (praseodymium, terbium), three (neodymium) or four (holmium) main stages of thermal decomposition. The most unstable among the complexes studied is Ho(Hsal)₃·4H₂O which releases four water molecules in an endothermic dehydration step. Ligand molecules decompose mainly in two stages of which the first is endothermic and is attributed to the release of the ligand acid and the second is a strongly exothermic decarboxylation process. The final decomposition product is the corresponding lanthanide(III) oxide, except in the case of terbium which decomposes to Tb₄O₇.     

Synthesis and spectral studies ofo-hydroxyacetophenone (N-benzoyl)glycyl hydrazone and some of its lanthanide(III) complexes

Summary o-Hydroxyacetophenone (N-benzoyl)glycyl hydrazone (o-HABzGH) has been characterized by i.r.,¹H n.m.r.,¹³C n.m.r. and mass spectral studies, and its complexes of the types [Ln(o-HABzGH)Cl₂(H₂O)₂]Cl and [Ln(o-HABzGH–2H)OH(H₂O)₃], where Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm and Eu, have been synthesized. The structures of the complexes have been studied by conductance, magnetic, electronic, i.r.,¹H n.m.r. and¹³C n.m.r. spectral techniques. The hypersensitive bands of the electronic spectra suggest coordination numbers six and seven around Nd^III in its adduct and neutral complexes respectively. I.r. and n.m.r. spectral data suggest a neutral bidentate behaviour for the ligand in the adducts and a dinegative tridentate nature in the neutral complexes.     

Equilibria and structure of the lanthanide(III)-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate complexes: formation of alkoxo-bridged dimers in solid state and solution

The complex formed between 1,3-diamino-2-hydroxypropane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (H4L-OH) and Nd3+ at pH 7.5 was found to be a dinuclear dimer in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. In the complex K4[Nd2(L-O)2(H2O)2].14H2O each ligand is coordinated to both Nd3+ atoms with an iminodiacetate group (the Nd3+-Nd3+ distance is 3.9283(8) A). The alcoholic OH groups are deprotonated, and the alkoxo oxygens are coordinated to both Nd3+ in a bridging position. The Nd3+ ions are nine-coordinated with one water molecule per Nd(III) ion in the inner sphere. The complex K4[Nd2(L-O)2(H2O)2].14H2O has an inversion center, and the space group is P1. Two of the K+ counterions are six-coordinated, while the other two K+ ions are eight-coordinated; polar polymeric water-K+ layers are formed between the apolar ligand layers via the bridging water molecules. The dinuclear dimer complexes are also present in aqueous solution. The proton relaxivities of the Gd3+ complex decrease with the increase of pH, and at pH > 6, the low relaxivity values indicate the probable absence of H2O in the inner sphere and the predominance of the eight-coordinated dimer species [Gd2(L-O)2].4- The results of ESI-TOF MS studies of the complexes of La3+, Nd3+, and Lu3+ proved the formation of dinuclear dimers in dilute (0.25 mM) solutions. pH-potentiometric titrations indicate the formation of complexes with 1:1 (Ln(L-OH)-, Ln(HL-OH), and Ln2(L-O)24-) and 2:1 (Ln2(L-O)+) metal-to-ligand ratios. The stability constants of the Ln(L-OH)- species increase from La3+ (log K = 10.19) to Lu3+ (log K = 14.08). The alcoholic OH group of the Ln(L-OH)- species dissociates at unusually low pH values. The pH range of dissociation shifts to lower and lower pH's with the increasing atomic number of the lanthanides. This pH range is about 4-7 for the La3+ complex and 1-4 for the Lu3+ complex. The results of 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR studies of the La3+ complex, the number and multiplicity of signals, and the values of coupling constants are in agreement with the dinuclear dimer structure of the complex in solution.     

Comparative structural studies of iodide complexes of uranium(III) and lanthanide(III) with hexadentate tetrapodal neutral N-donor ligands

The syntheses, the solution structures, and the crystal structures of the two new tetrapodal N-donor ligands N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyrazylmethyl)-1,3-trimethylenediamine (tpztn), 1, and N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyrazylmethyl)-trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine (tpzcn), 2, are described. Two different geometric isomers of the cation [La(tpztn)I(2)](+) were isolated in which the ligand adopts two different conformations leading to strong differences in the metal-ligand bond distances. The crystal structure of isostructural complexes of La, U, Ce, and Nd were determined by X-ray diffraction studies for the ligands tpztn and tpzcn. In both series of complexes the two methylpyrazyl arms and the diamine spacer (trimethylene or cyclohexane) around each aliphatic nitrogen adopt the same helical configuration. The complexes crystallize as a racemic mixture of Lambda,Lambda and Delta,Delta enantiomers with distorted square antiprism geometries. In these complexes the M-N(pyrazine) distances show a decrease from La to Ce and from La to Nd which corresponds well to the decrease in ionic radius as expected in a purely ionic bonding model. Conversely the mean value of the U-N(pyrazine) distances is shorter (0.043(3) A for tpztn and 0.054(11) A for tpzcn) than the mean value of the La-N(pyrazine) distances. These differences are significantly larger than the decrease expected from the variation of the ionic radii and can be interpreted in terms of a stronger M-N interaction for U(III). Previously reported extraction studies have shown that while the tripod tris[(2-pyrazyl)methyl]amine (tpza) containing three pyrazyl nitrogens extracts An(III) preferentially to Ln(III), tpztn and tpzcn display no selectivity despite the presence of four pyrazyl groups connected to a different spacer. The structural studies described here show that despite the lack of selectivity observed in the extraction conditions, the arrangement of pyrazyl nitrogens in the tetrapodal architectures of tpztn and tpzcn allows for metal-ligand interaction similar to that observed for tpza.     

Structural studies of mono(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)lanthanide complexes

The mono(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) lanthanide complexes [(C₅Me₅)Yb(μ-I)(μ-η ⁵?: η ⁵-C₅Me₅)Yb(C₅Me₅)]_n (1), {[(C₅Me₅)Sm]₃(μ-Cl)₄(μ ₃-Cl)(μ ₃-OH)(THF)}₂ (2), {[(C₅Me₅)Sm]₂ (μ-OH)(μ-Cl)₄(μ ₃-Cl)Mg(THF)₂}₂ (3), [(C₅Me₅)₂Sm](μ-Cl)₆(μ ₃-Cl)₂(μ ₄-Cl)[(C₅Me₅)Sm]₄ (4), {[(C₅Me₅)Nd]₃(μ ₃-Cl)₄(μ ₄-Cl)₂(μ ₃-O₂CPh)₂K₂(η ⁶-C₇H₈)}₂ (5), [(C₅Me₅)Nd(C₈H₈)]₂(μ-dioxane) (6), [(C₅Me₅)Yb(MeO^tBu)]₂(μ-η ⁸?:?η ⁸-C₈H₈) (7), [(C₅Me₅)Dy(μ-I)₂]₃ (8), and [(C₅Me₅) Tm(MeCN)₆]I₂ (9), have been identified by X-ray crystallography. 1 is unusual in that it has a μ-η ⁵?:?η ⁵-C₅Me₅ ring that generates a local bent metallocene environment around ytterbium. Complexes 2–5 demonstrate the versatility of bridging chlorides in generating a variety of structures for mono(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) lanthanide halides. Complex 6 shows how dioxane can generate a crystallographically-analyzable complex by bridging two mixed-ligand metallocene units that do not readily crystallize with THF. The structure of 7 shows how methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) ligates a lanthanide. Complex 8 is a trimeric cyclopentadienyl lanthanide halide unusual in that it has six bridging halides that roughly define a trigonal prism. Complex 9 constitutes an organometallic example of a lanthanide in which acetonitrile completely displaces iodide counterions.     

Ion-pair interactions of lanthanide(III) complexes in aqueous solutions

The formation of ion-pair adducts between the cationic complex La(THP)3+ (THP = 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) and the anionic complexes Tm(DOTA)- (DOTA = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetate), Tm(DTPA)2- (DTPA = diethylenetriamine-N,N,N',N",N"-pentaacetate), Tm(TTHA)3- (TTHA = triethylenetetraamine-N,N,N',N",N"',N"'-hexaacetate), and Tm(DOTP)5- (DOTP = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetrakis(methylenephosphonate)) is examined by 13C NMR spectroscopy. The induced 13C shifts of the La(THP)3+ complex are followed by titration of the Tm(III) complexes of DOTA, DTPA, and TTHA at pH 7. From these data, the stability constants are calculated to be beta 1 = 64 M-1 (1:1), beta 1 = 296 M-1 (1:1), and beta 2 = 26,000 M-2 (2:1) for the ion pairs of La(THP)3+, with Tm(DOTA)-, Tm(DTPA)2-, and Tm(TTHA)3-, respectively. The La(THP)3+,Tm(DOTP)5- system elicits chiral resolution of the rapidly interconverting Tm(DOTP)5- isomers.     

Enantiomeric self-recognition in homo- and heterodinuclear macrocyclic lanthanide(III) complexes

The controlled formation of lanthanide(III) dinuclear μ-hydroxo-bridged [Ln(2)L(2)(μ-OH)(2)X(2)](n+) complexes (where X = H(2)O, NO(3)(-), or Cl(-)) of the enantiopure chiral macrocycle L is reported. The (1)H and (13)C NMR resonances of these complexes have been assigned on the basis of COSY, NOESY, TOCSY, and HMQC spectra. The observed NOE connectivities confirm that the dimeric solid-state structure is retained in solution. The enantiomeric nature of the obtained chiral complexes and binding of hydroxide anions are reflected in their CD spectra. The formation of the dimeric complexes is accompanied by a complete enantiomeric self-recognition of the chiral macrocyclic units. The reaction of NaOH with a mixture of two different mononuclear lanthanide(III) complexes, [Ln(1)L](3+) and [Ln(2)L](3+), results in formation of the heterodinuclear [Ln(1)Ln(2)L(2)(μ-OH)(2)X(2)](n+) complexes as well as the corresponding homodinuclear complexes. The formation of the heterodinuclear complex is directly confirmed by the NOESY spectra of [EuLuL(2)(μ-OH)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](4+), which reveal close contacts between the macrocyclic unit containing the Eu(III) ion and the macrocyclic unit containing the Lu(III) ion. While the relative amounts of homo- and heterodinuclear complexes are statistical for the two lanthanide(III) ions of similar radii, a clear preference for the formation of heterodinuclear species is observed when the two mononuclear complexes contain lanthanide(III) ions of markedly different sizes, e.g., La(III) and Yb(III). The formation of heterodinuclear complexes is accompanied by the self-sorting of the chiral macrocyclic units based on their chirality. The reactions of NaOH with a pair of homochiral or racemic mononuclear complexes, [Ln(1)L(RRRR)](3+)/[Ln(2)L(RRRR)](3+), [Ln(1)L(SSSS)](3+)/[Ln(2)L(SSSS)](3+), or [Ln(1)L(rac)](3+)/[Ln(2)L(rac)](3+), results in mixtures of homochiral, homodinuclear and homochiral, heterodinuclear complexes. On the contrary, no heterochiral, heterodinuclear complexes [Ln(1)L(RRRR)Ln(2)L(SSSS)(μ-OH)(2)X(2)](n+) are formed in the reactions of two different mononuclear complexes of opposite chirality.