Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of novel lanthanide complexes based on pyrazolone Schiff bases

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of novel lanthanide complexes, based on tripodal ligands prepared by reaction of 3-aryl/heteroaryl-4-benzoyl-1-phenyl-5-pyrazolone (where aryl/heteroaryl = phenyl, 2-pirydyl or 2-thienyl) with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN) are reported. All of the new Schiff base-type ligands have relatively high located triplet energy levels in comparison with their simple β-diketonate analogues. All of them were used as “antennas” for the ligand-sensitized photoluminescence of Tb3+ ion and in two cases (aryl/heteroaryl = phenyl and 2-pirydyl) characteristic green photoluminescence was detected.