Polarized luminescence of non-mesogenic europium(III) complexes doped into a nematic liquid crystal.

The luminescence spectra of europium(III) complexes dissolved in the liquid crystal 4'-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) were investigated. Upon alignment of the europium(III)-doped nematic liquid-crystal host in a liquid-crystal cell with alignment layers, polarization effects were observed in the emission spectra. These polarization effects were visible as differences in the relative intensities of the crystal-field components of the transitions. Although the europium(III) complexes do not need to be liquid-crystalline themselves, some structural anisotropy is required for good alignment in the liquid crystal host and for the generation of linearly polarized light.

Visible and near-infrared emission by samarium(III)-containing ionic liquid mixtures.

Highly luminescent anionic samarium(III) beta-diketonate and dipicolinate complexes were dissolved in the imidazolium ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [C(6)mim][Tf(2)N]. The solubility of the complexes in the ionic liquid was ensured by a careful choice of the countercation of the samarium(III) complex. The samarium(III) complexes that were considered are [C(6)mim][Sm(tta)(4)], where tta is 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate; [C(6)mim][Sm(nta)(4)], where nta is 2-naphthoyltrifluoroacetonate; [C(6)mim][Sm(hfa)(4)], where hfa is hexafluoroacetylacetonate; and [choline](3)[Sm(dpa)(3)], where dpa is pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (dipicolinate) and [choline](+) is (2-hydroxyethyl)trimethyl ammonium. The crystal structures of the tetrakis samarium(III) beta-diketonate complexes revealed a distorted square antiprismatic coordination for the samarium(III) ion in all three cases. Luminescence spectra were recorded for the samarium(III) complexes dissolved in the imidazolium ionic liquid as well as in a conventional solvent, that is, acetonitrile or water for the beta-diketonate and dipicolinate complexes, respectively. These experiments demonstrate that [C(6)mim][Tf(2)N] is a suitable spectroscopic solvent for studying samarium(III) luminescence. High-luminescence quantum yields were observed for the samarium(III) beta-diketonate complexes in solution.

Speciation of rare-earth metal complexes in ionic liquids: a multiple-technique approach.

The dissolution process of metal complexes in ionic liquids was investigated by a multiple-technique approach to reveal the solvate species of the metal in solution. The task-specific ionic liquid betainium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Hbet][Tf(2)N]) is able to dissolve stoichiometric amounts of the oxides of the rare-earth elements. The crystal structures of the compounds [Eu(2)(bet)(8)(H(2)O)(4)][Tf(2)N](6), [Eu(2)(bet)(8)(H(2)O)(2)][Tf(2)N](6) x 2 H(2)O, and [Y(2)(bet)(6)(H(2)O)(4)][Tf(2)N](6) were found to consist of dimers. These rare-earth complexes are well soluble in the ionic liquids [Hbet][Tf(2)N] and [C(4)mim][Tf(2)N] (C(4)mim = 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium). The speciation of the metal complexes after dissolution in these ionic liquids was investigated by luminescence spectroscopy, (1)H, (13)C, and (89)Y NMR spectroscopy, and by the synchrotron techniques EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) and HEXS (high-energy X-ray scattering). The combination of these complementary analytical techniques reveals that the cationic dimers decompose into monomers after dissolution of the complexes in the ionic liquids. Deeper insight into the solution processes of metal compounds is desirable for applications of ionic liquids in the field of electrochemistry, catalysis, and materials chemistry.

Pyrrolidinium ionic liquid crystals.

N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium cations have been used for the design of ionic liquid crystals, including a new type of uranium-containing metallomesogen. Pyrrolidinium salts with bromide, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, thiocyanate, tetrakis(2- thenoyltrifluoroacetonato)europate(III) and tetrabromouranyl counteranions were prepared. For the bromide salts and tetrabromouranyl compounds, the chain length of the alkyl group C(n)H(2n+1) was varied from eight to twenty carbon atoms (n = 8, 10-20). The compounds show rich mesomorphic behaviour: highly ordered smectic phases (the crystal smectic E phase and the uncommon crystal smectic T phase), smectic A phases, and hexagonal columnar phases were observed, depending on chain length and anion. This work gives better insight into the nature and formation of the crystal smectic T phase, and the molecular requirements for the appearance of this highly ordered phase. This uncommon tetragonal mesophase is thoroughly discussed on the basis of detailed powder X-ray diffraction experiments and in relation to the existing literature. Structural models are proposed for self-assembly of the molecules within the smectic layers. In addition, the photophysical properties of the compounds containing a metal complex anion were investigated. For the uranium-containing mesogens, luminescence can be induced by dissolving them in an ionic liquid matrix. The europium-containing compound shows intense red photoluminescence with high colour purity.

Lanthanide-doped luminescent ionogels.

Ionogels are solid oxide host networks confining at a meso-scale ionic liquids, and retaining their liquid nature. Ionogels were obtained by dissolving lanthanide(III) complexes in the ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [C6mim][Tf2N], followed by confinement of the lanthanide-doped ionic liquid mixtures in the pores of a nano-porous silica network. [C6mim][Ln(tta)4], where tta is 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate and Ln=Nd, Sm, Eu, Ho, Er, Yb, and [choline]3[Tb(dpa)3], where dpa=pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (dipicolinate), were chosen as the lanthanide complexes. The ionogels are luminescent, ion-conductive inorganic-organic hybrid materials. Depending on the lanthanide(III) ion, emission in the visible or the near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum was observed. The work presented herein highlights that the confinement did not disturb the first coordination sphere of the lanthanide ions and also showed the excellent luminescence performance of the lanthanide tetrakis beta-diketonate complexes. The crystal structures of the complexes [C6mim][Yb(tta)4] and [choline]3[Tb(dpa)3] are reported.

Structural characterization and reactivity of gamma-octamolybdate functionalized by proline.

The reaction of molybdate and dl-proline at pH 3.4 results in the formation of a Na(4)[Mo(8)O(26)(proO)(2)] x 22H(2)O complex (pro=proline) in which two proline ligands are attached to molybdenum(VI) ions via monodentate coordination of the carboxylate groups. The structure of the complex was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction and by combination of (1)H, (13)C and (95)Mo NMR spectroscopy techniques in solution. The structure of the complex is strongly dependent on the pH. At native pH 3.4 the octamolybdate-type structure seems to be present in solution, but the increase of pH to 5.8 resulted in a rearrangement of the structure to a heptamolybdate-type structure. At physiological pH, the polyoxometalate framework was completely dissociated into the monomeric MoO(4)(2-) unit. The reactivity of the Na(4)[Mo(8)O(26)(proO)(2)] x 22H(2)O towards the hydrolysis of ATP was tested at different pH values. While in solution at pH 3.4 the hydrolysis proceeded to yield AMP (adenosine monophosphate) and ADP (adenosine diphosphate) in nearly equal amounts, reaction mixture at pH 5.8 gave ADP as the only product of hydrolysis after 24h of reaction. At neutral pH, the hydrolysis of ATP was slower, but it proceeded to yield 75% of ADP after 48 h of reaction.

Speciation of uranyl complexes in ionic liquids by optical spectroscopy.

Uranyl complexes dissolved in room-temperature ionic liquids have diagnostic absorption and emission spectra which reflect the molecular symmetry and geometry. In particular, the characteristic vibrational fine structure of the absorption spectra allows identification of the molecular symmetry of a uranyl complex. The concept of speciation of uranyl complexes is illustrated for the hydrated uranyl ion, the tetrachloro complex [UO2Cl4]2-, the trinitrato complex [UO2(NO3)3]-, the triacetato complex [UO2(CH3COO)3]-, and the crown ether complex [UO2(18-crown-6)]2+ in imidazolium and pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids. The competition between 18-crown-6 and small inorganic ligands for coordination to the uranyl ion was investigated. The crystal structures of the hydrolysis product [(UO2)2(mu2-OH)2(H2O)6] [UO2Br4](18-crown-6)4 and imidazolium salt [C6mim]2[UO2Br4] are described.

Rare-Earth complexes of ferrocene-containing ligands: visible-light excitable luminescent materials.

The ferrocene-derivatives bis(ferrocenyl-ethynyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (Fc(2)phen) and ferrocenoyltrifluoroacetone (Hfta) have been used to synthesize ferrocene-containing rare-earth beta-diketonate complexes. The complexes [Ln(tta)(3)(Fc(2)phen)] and [Ln(fta)(3)(phen)] (where Ln = La, Nd, Eu, Yb) show structural similarities to the tris(2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate)(1,10-phenanthroline)lanthanide(III) complexes, [Ln(tta)(3)(phen)]. The coordination number of the lanthanide ion is 8, and the coordination sphere can be described as a distorted dodecahedron. However, the presence of the ferrocene moieties shifts the ligand absorption bands of the rare-earth complexes to longer wavelengths so that the complexes can be excited not only by ultraviolet radiation but also by visible light of wavelengths up to 420 nm. Red photoluminescence is observed for the europium(III) complexes and near-infrared photoluminescence for the neodymium(III) and ytterbium(III) complexes. The presence of the ferrocene groups makes the rare-earth complexes hydrophobic and well-soluble in apolar organic solvents.

Electronic spectra of uranyl chloride complexes in acetone: a CASSCF/CASPT2 investigation.

A theoretical study is presented of the electronic spectra of the complexes UO(2)Cl(2)ac(4), UO(2)Cl(2)ac(3), [UO(2)Cl(3)ac(2)](-) and [UO(2)Cl(3)ac](-) (ac = acetone) using perturbation theory based on a complete-active-space type wavefunction (CASSCF/CASPT2). Both scalar relativistic effects and spin-orbit coupling were included in the calculations. The calculated excitation energies and oscillator strength values have been compared to the experimental absorption spectrum for uranyl chloride complexes in acetone solution, for chloride-to-uranyl ratios between two and three. The main purpose of this work was to investigate the origin of the remarkable intensity increase observed in the lower part of the experimental absorption spectra, upon addition of chloride to uranyl complexes in acetone. The calculated excitation energies for the different complexes are similar and closely correspond to the experimental data. However, in none of the theoretical spectra, the high intensities observed in the lower part of the experimental spectrum are reproduced.

Spectroscopic properties of neodymium(III)-containing polyoxometalates in aqueous solution.

The spectroscopic properties of the neodymium(III)-containing polyoxometalates (POMs) [Nd(PW(11)O(39))(2)](11-), [Nd(PMo(2)W(9)O(39))(2)](11-), [Nd(PMo(4)W(7)O(39))(2)](11-), [Nd(PMo(6)W(5)O(39))(2)](11-), [Nd(SiMo(2)W(9)O(39))(2)](13-), [Nd(P(2)W(17)O(61))(2)](17-), [NdW(10)O(36)](9-), [NdP(5)W(30)O(110)](12-) and [NdAs(4)W(40)O(140)](25-) are described. Absorption spectra of aqueous solutions of the complexes have been recorded and the transition intensities are parameterised in terms of the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Omega(lambda) (lambda=2, 4, 6). Marked differences were found between the luminescence lifetimes of the complexes of the type Nd(POM) and those of the type Nd(POM)(2), due to a better shielding of the neodymium(III) ions from the bulk water molecules in the latter type of complexes.

Structure of [UO2Cl4]2- in acetonitrile.

The complex formation of uranyl UO(2)(2+) with chloride ions in acetonitrile was studied by UV-vis and U L(III) EXAFS spectroscopy. The investigations unambiguously point to the existence of a [UO(2)Cl(4)](2-) species in solution with D(4)(h)() symmetry. The distances in the U(VI) coordination sphere are U-O(ax) = 1.77 +/- 0.01 Angstroms and U-Cl = 2.68 +/- 0.01 Angstroms.

Pentacopper(II) complexes of alpha-aminohydroxamic acids: uranyl-induced conversion of a 12-metallacrown-4 to a 15-metallacrown-5.

Effects of uranyl on the pentacopper(II) complexes of alpha-leucinehydroxamic acid and alpha-tyrosinehydroxamic acid were studied in water and methanol by means of electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ES-MS), absorption spectrophotometry, circular dichroism spectroscopy and proton NMR spectroscopy. All the measurements were consistent with the complete conversion of a 12-metallacrown-4 to a 15-metallacrown-5 upon addition of one equivalent of the uranyl ion. The uranyl ion is accommodated in the cavity formed by five copper(II) ions and five alpha-aminohydroxamate ligands. The 15-metallacrown-5 inclusion complexes have a high affinity for the uranyl ion. Competition studies showed that even in the presence of a large excess of calcium(II), the 15-metallacrown-5 remained stable, and no exchange reactions between calcium(II) and uranyl were observed. Extraction of uranyl from the 15-metallacrown-5 was also not detected in the presence of a large excess of 18-crown-6. Trivalent lanthanide ions can be partially sequestered by the 15-metallacrown-5, however, even these trivalent ions are displaced by uranyl.