Structural and spectroscopic investigations of europium(III) entrapped by the ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonate) ligand in K12H8[Eu4(EDTMP)4] · 45H2O crystal

The X-ray crystal structure of an anionic octacoordinate Eu³⁺ complex of the formula K₁₂H₈Eu₄(EDTMP)₄] · 45H₂O, where EDTMP is the ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonate) anion, hereinafter referred to as I, has been determined. The crystal consists of cyclic tetrameric complex anions, in which the surrounding of each Eu³⁺ ion is composed of two nitrogen atoms and six oxygen atoms from phosphonate groups. One of the phosphonate groups in the ligand molecule is tridentate (O:O′,O″), thus giving rise to the formation of the tetramers. The compound was characterized by UV–Vis electronic spectroscopy. At room and liquid nitrogen temperatures the complex shows luminescence from both ⁵D₀ and ⁵D₁ states, the latter one, which is very rare in Eu³⁺ compounds with organic ligands, is probably brought about by the saturation of the coordination sphere with the phosphonate groups.