Anthracene as a sensitiser for near-infrared luminescence in complexes of Nd(III), Er(III) and Yb(III): an unexpected sensitisation mechanism based on electron transfer

The ligand L(1), which contains a chelating 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole (PB) unit with a pendant anthacenyl group An connected via a methylene spacer, (L(1) = PB-An), was used to prepare the 8-coordinate lanthanide(III) complexes [Ln(hfac)(3)(L(1))] (Ln = Nd, Gd, Er, Yb) which have been structurally characterised and all have a square antiprismatic N(2)O(6) coordination geometry. Whereas free L(1) displays typical anthracene-based fluorescence, this fluorescence is completely quenched in its complexes. The An group in L(1) acts as an antenna unit: in the complexes [Ln(hfac)(3)(L(1))] (Ln = Nd, Er, Yb) selective excitation of the anthracene results in sensitised near-infrared luminescence from the lanthanide centres with concomitant quenching of An fluorescence. Surprisingly, the anthracene fluorescence is also quenched even in the Gd(III) complex and in its Zn(II) adduct in which quenching via energy transfer to the metal centre is not possible. It is proposed that the quenching of anthracene fluorescence in coordinated L(1) arises due to intra-ligand photoinduced electron-transfer from the excited anthracene chromophore (1)An* to the coordinated PB unit generating a short-lived charge-separated state [An(.+)-PB(.-)] which collapses by back electron-transfer to give (3)An*. This electron-transfer step is only possible upon coordination of L(1) to the metal centre, which strongly increases the electron acceptor capability of the PB unit, such that (1)An* --> PB PET is endoergonic in free L(1) but exergonic in its complexes. Thus, rather than a conventional set of steps ((1)An* -->(3)An* --> Ln), the sensitization mechanism now includes (1)An* --> PB photoinduced electron transfer to generate charge-separated [An(.+)-PB(.-)], then back electron-transfer to generate (3)An* which finally sensitises the Ln(III) centre via energy transfer. The presence of (3)An* in L(1) and its complexes is confirmed by nanosecond transient absorption studies, which have also shown that the (3)An* lifetime in the Nd(III) complex matches the rise time of Nd-centred near-infrared emission, confirming that the final step of the sequence is (3)An* --> Ln(III) energy-transfer.     

Dynkin diagrams and short Peirce gradings of Kantor pairs

In a recent article with Oleg Smirnov, we defined short Peirce (SP) graded Kantor pairs. For any such pair P, we defined a family, parameterized by the Weyl group of type BC₂, consisting of SP-graded Kantor pairs called Weyl images of P. In this article, we classify finite dimensional simple SP-graded Kantor pairs over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0 in terms of marked Dynkin diagrams, and we show how to compute Weyl images using these diagrams. The theory is particularly attractive for close-to-Jordan Kantor pairs (which are variations of Freudenthal triple systems), and we construct the reflections of such pairs (with nontrivial gradings) starting from Jordan pairs of matrices.     

Generating a Warm Glow: Lanthanide Complexes Which Luminesce in the Near-IR

This article reviews and expands upon our observations of neodymium and ytterbium-centered luminescence in the near-IR. A variety of neodymium (III) and ytterbium (III) complexes with aminocarboxylate ligands was synthesized and their photophysical properties were investigated in aqueous solutions. Metal-centered emission was observed in the near-IR for complexes of both ions and time-resolved studies were used to show how quenching of the excited states is dependent on both inner and outer sphere coordinated water molecules.     

Renierone,an antimicrobial metabolite from a marine sponge

The major antibacterial metabolite in the sponge $\text{Reniera}$ sp. was shown to be an isoquinoline quinone, renierone ($\text{1}$). The structure of renierone ($\text{1}$) was defined by X-ray crystallography.     

Structural and photophysical properties of coordination networks combining [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- anions and lanthanide(III) cations: rates of photoinduced Ru-to-lanthanide energy transfer and sensitized near-infrared luminescence

Co-crystallization of K2[Ru(bipy)(CN)4] with lanthanide(III) salts (Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd, Er, Yb) from aqueous solution affords coordination oligomers and networks in which the [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- unit is connected to the lanthanide cation via Ru-CN-Ln bridges. The complexes fall into two structural types: [{Ru(bipy)(CN)4}2{Ln(H2O)m}{K(H2O)n}] x xH2O (Ln = Pr, Er, Yb; m = 7, 6, 6, respectively), in which two [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- units are connected to a single lanthanide ion by single cyanide bridges to give discrete trinuclear fragments, and [{Ru(bipy)(CN)4}3{Ln(H2O)4}2] x xH2O (Ln = Nd, Gd), which contain two-dimensional sheets of interconnected, cyanide-bridged Ru2Ln2 squares. In the Ru-Gd system, the [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- unit shows the characteristic intense (3)metal-to-ligand charge transfer luminescence at 580 nm with tau = 550 ns; with the other lanthanides, the intensity and lifetime of this luminescence are diminished because of a Ru --> Ln photoinduced energy transfer to low-lying emissive states of the lanthanide ions, resulting in sensitized near-infrared luminescence in every case. From the degree of quenching of the Ru-based emission, Ru --> Ln energy-transfer rates can be estimated, which are in the order Yb (k(EnT) approximately 3 x 10(6) sec(-1), the slowest energy transfer) < Er < Pr < Nd (k(EnT) approximately 2 x 10(8) sec(-1), the fastest energy transfer). This order may be rationalized on the basis of the availability of excited f-f levels on the lanthanide ions at energies that overlap with the Ru-based emission spectrum. In every case, the lifetime of the lanthanide-based luminescence is short (tens/hundreds of nanoseconds, instead of the more usual microseconds), even when the water ligands on the lanthanide ions are replaced by D2O to eliminate the quenching effects of OH oscillators; we tentatively ascribe this quenching effect to the cyanide ligands.     

A chemical defense mechanism for the nudibranch cadlina luteomarginata

The nudibranch Cadlina luteomarginata from San Diego, California, concentrates selected metabolites from the sponges that constitute its diet. Gut analyses revealed that C. leutomarginata consumes at least ten sponges although Axinella sp. and Myxilla incrustans are most frequently eaten. Field observations and analysis of metabolites suggest that keratose sponges Leiosella idia (=Spongia idia) and Dysidea amblia are also consumed. Three novel compounds, the furan 20, the isonitrile 23 and the isothiocyanate 24 were identified by analysis of spectral data. The secondary metabolites of C. leuteomarginata were found only in the dorsum, which is exposed to potential predators. Five metabolites of C. luteomarginata were screened for antifeedant activity against fish and all showed some activity at 10–100 μ/mg in food pellets.     

Nitrite‐Templated Synthesis of Lanthanide‐Containing [2]Rotaxanes for Anion Sensing

The first anion‐templated synthesis of a lanthanide‐containing interlocked molecule is demonstrated by utilizing a nitrite anion to template initial pseudorotaxane formation. Subsequent stoppering of the interpenetrated assembly allows for the preparation of a lanthanide‐functionalized [2]rotaxane in high yield. Following removal of the nitrite anion template, the europium [2]rotaxane host is demonstrated to recognize and sense fluoride selectively.