Luminescent behavior and energy transfer in homometallic Eu and ion associating Eu–Zn complexes with a pentadentate ligand

A pentadentate ligand L (2-(2-((bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)phenoxy) -N,N-diphenylacetamide) was self-assembled with Eu (NO3)3 or Zn (NO3)2/Eu (NO3)3 to give homometallic complex ([EuL(NO3)3], 1) or ion associating complex ([ZnL(NO3)]2·[Eu(NO3)5]·CH3CN, 2), respectively. The photoluminescent behavior and energy transfer process were studied in the two complexes by excitation in different ways, in which 2 shows Förster energy transfer mechanism.