Crystal structure and triboluminescence of the [Eu(TTA)2(NO3)(TPPO)2] complex

The crystal structure of [Eu(TTA)₂(NO₃)(TPPO)₂] (I) (TTA = thenoyltrifluoroacetone, TPPO = triphenylphosphine oxide) possessing intense triboluminescence was established by X-ray crystallography. The crystals are triclinic, noncentrocymmetrical: a = 11.047(3) Å, b = 11.794(3) Å, c = 12.537(3) Å; α = 102.635 (4)°, β = 102.088(4)°,γ = 117.765(3)°; space group P1, Z = 1. The central Eu(III) atom coordinates two oxygen atoms of two TPPO molecules at distances of 2.271 Å and 2.282 Å, two oxygen atoms of the nitrate group at distances of 2.478 Å and 2.481 Å, four oxygen atoms of two TTA ions at distances of 2.365 Å, 2.381 Å, and 2.363 Å, 2.371 Å (coordination number is 8). The coordination polyhedron of the Eu(III) atom is a distorted dodecahedron. Possible reasons for spectral differences in the Stark structure of photo-and triboluminescence of I are discussed.