Phloroglucinol based podands, versatile tripodal ligands

The synthesis of four phloroglucinol based podands is described. Ligands 4 and 5 have three bipyridine arms and an induced octahedral cavity ideal for transition metal complexation. The iron(II) complex of 4 is described. Tripodes 6 and 7 possess three bipyridine-carboxylate arms, and are designed for the encapsulation of luminescent lanthanide salts. Some preliminary optical properties of the corresponding Eu3+ and Tb3+ are presented.