Lanthanide-Containing Monomers Produced from Unsaturated Acids: Synthesis,Polymerization, and Spectral and Luminescent Properties. Crystal Structure of Europium(III) Methacrylate

Synthesis of lanthanide-containing (Ln = Eu, Tb, Nd, Gd) monomers based on unsaturated acids is described, namely, of LnL¹₃ · nH₂O (L¹ are anions of acrylic and methacrylic acids) and Ln₂L²₃ · nH₂O (L² are anions of maleic and fumaric acids); n = 0–3, 6. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetry, and IR and luminescence spectroscopy. Europium methacrylate Eu(Macr)₃ was studied using X-ray diffraction analysis: rhombic system, a = 14.831(3) Å, b = 12.964(2) Å, c = 7.761(1) Å, space group Cmc2₁, V = 1483.5(4) ų, (calcd) = 1.823 g/cm³. Infinite chains of Eu(Macr)₃ molecules are directed along crystallographic axis c and are bound by van der Waals interactions. Radical polymerization of Eu(III) and Tb(III) acrylates and Eu(III) methacrylate yields lanthanide-containing polymers with a high content of Ln (40–50 mass %). Their spectral and luminescent properties are studied.