Molecular structure, photophysical and thermal properties of samarium (III) complexes

Some 8-coordinated samarium (III) complexes (1–4) having bipy (2,2′-bipyridine), terpy (2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine), phen (1,10-phenanthroline) and tp [hydrotris (pyrazol-1-yl) borate] as supporting ligands have been synthesized and structurally characterized by different techniques including X-ray crystallography. The X-ray studies demonstrated that the complexes 1, 2 and 4 crystallized in triclinic space group P 1 ¯ with cell dimensions a = 8.5640(2) Å, b = 8.8696(2) Å, c = 15.8608(4) Å for 1; a = 7.2113(9) Å, b = 11.0737(14) Å, c = 13.6289(18) Å for 2; a = 12.440(3) Å, b = 12.874(3) Å, c = 17.822(4) Å for 4, whereas the complex 3 crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/c with cell dimensions a = 9.472(3) Å, b = 17.092(5) Å, c = 14.516(5) Å. The IR study suggested that the azide is coordinated in 1, 3-bridging mode in complex 4. The photophysical properties of above complexes have been studied with ultraviolet absorption and emission spectral studies. Thermogravimetric analyses suggested that all these complexes undergo the complete decomposition to form the thermally stable samarium oxide (Sm2O3).