Synthesis, structure and luminescence properties of a series of dinuclear LnIII complexes (Ln=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er)

The reactions of lanthanide nitrates with a Schiff-base ligand HL (2-[(2-hydroxypropylimino)methyl] phenol) have produced five new complexes with formula as [Ln2(L)3(NO3)3]CH3OH(Ln=Gd 1, Tb 2, Dy 3, Ho 4, Er 5). These new complexes are characterized by elemental analysis, IR and X-ray diffraction, as well as fluorescence spectra. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that all the complexes crystallize in the trigonal system, space group R-3. Fluorescence spectroscopy of Tb(III) and Dy(III) complexes display strong characteristic metal-centered fluorescence in solid state, which demonstrates that luminescence is sensitized by the effective energy-transfer from ligand to the metals. The fluorescence lifetimes of complex 2 and 3 are also determined.