Synthesis, crystal structure, and fluorescence of two dimeric europium(III) complexes with 2-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

Two complexes [Eu2(2-TFMBA)6(2,2ʹ-bipy)2]·2H2O (1) and Eu2(2-TFMBA)6(1,10-phen)2 (2) (2-TFMBA=2-(Trifluoromethyl) benzoate; 2,2ʹ-bipy=2,2ʹ-bipyridine; 1,10-phen=1,10-phenanthroline) were synthesized by solvent method and determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic system with space group P21/c, whereas complex 2 crystallizes in triclinic system with space group . Both are binuclear molecules with an inversion center. In complex 1, two center Eu3+ ions are linked together by four 2-TFMBA ligands in bidentate-bridging mode. Each Eu3+ ion is eight-coordinated with six O atoms from five 2-TFMBA ligands and two N atoms from one 2,2ʹ-bipy molecule. In complex 2, two center Eu3+ ions are linked together by four 2-TFMBA ligands in two modes, namely, bidentate-bridging and tridentate-bridging. Each Eu3+ ion is nine-coordinated with seven O atoms from five 2-TFMBA ligands and two N atoms from one 1,10-phen molecule. The two complexes both exhibited strong red fluorescence under ultraviolet light, and the 5D0 → 7Fj (j=0–4) transition emissions of Eu3+ ion were observed in their emission spectra.