Coordination Properties of GdDO3A-Based Model Compounds of Bioresponsive MRI Contrast Agents.

We report a detailed characterization of the thermodynamic stability and dissociation kinetics of Gd3+ complexes with DO3A derivatives containing a (methylethylcarbamoylmethylamino)acetic acid (L1), (methylpropylcarbamoylmethylamino)acetic acid (L2), 2-dimethylamino- N-ethylacetamide (L3), or 2-dimethylamino- N-propylacetamide (L4) group attached to the fourth nitrogen atom of the macrocyclic unit. These ligands are model systems of Ca2+- and Zn2+-responsive contrast agents (CA) for application in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The results of the potentiometric studies ( I = 0.15 M NaCl) provide stability constants with log KGdL values in the range 13.9-14.8. The complex speciation in solution was found to be quite complicated due to the formation of protonated species at low pH, hydroxido complexes at high pH, and stable dinuclear complexes in the case of L1,2. At neutral pH significant fractions of the complexes are protonated at the amine group of the amide side chain (log KGdL×H = 7.2-8.1). These ligands form rather weak complexes with Mg2+ and Ca2+ but very stable complexes with Cu2+ (log KCuL = 20.4-22.3) and Zn2+ (log KZnL = 15.5-17.6). Structural studies using a combination of 1H NMR and luminescence spectroscopy show that the amide group of the ligand is coordinated to the metal ion at pH ∼8.5, while protonation of the amine group provokes the decoordination of the amide O atom and a concomitant increase in the hydration number and proton relaxivity. The dissociation of the complexes occurs mainly through a rather efficient proton-assisted pathway, which results in kinetic inertness comparable to that of nonmacrocyclic ligands such as DTPA rather than DOTA-like complexes.

Definition of the Labile Capping Bond Effect in Lanthanide Complexes.

Two macrocyclic ligands containing a cyclen unit, a methyl group, a picolinate arm, and two acetate pendant arms attached to two nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle either in trans (1,7-H3 Medo2 ampa = 2,2'-(7-((6-carboxypyridin-2-yl)methyl)-10-methyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4-diyl)diacetic acid) or in cis (1,4-H3 Medo2 ampa) positions are reported. These ligands provide eight-coordination to the Ln3+ ions, leaving a coordination position available for a water molecule that occupies a capping position in the twisted square antiprismatic polyhedron (1,4-H3 Medo2 ampa) or one of the positions of the square antiprism (1,7-H3 Medo2 ampa). The charge neutral [Gd(1,7-Medo2 ampa)] complex presents an unprecedentedly low water-exchange rate (kex298 =8.8×103  s-1 ), whereas water exchange in [Gd(1,4-Medo2 ampa)] is three orders of magnitude faster (kex298 =6.6×106  s-1 ). These results showcase the labile capping bond phenomenon: A ligand occupying a capping position is hindered by the environment and thus is intrinsically labile.

Approaching the Kinetic Inertness of Macrocyclic Gadolinium(III)-Based MRI Contrast Agents with Highly Rigid Open-Chain Derivatives.

A highly rigid open-chain octadentate ligand (H4 cddadpa) containing a diaminocylohexane unit to replace the ethylenediamine bridge of 6,6'-[(ethane-1,2 diylbis{(carboxymethyl)azanediyl})bis(methylene)]dipicolinic acid (H4 octapa) was synthesized. This structural modification improves the thermodynamic stability of the Gd(3+) complex slightly (log KGdL =20.68 vs. 20.23 for [Gd(octapa)](-) ) while other MRI-relevant parameters remain unaffected (one coordinated water molecule; relaxivity r1 =5.73 mm(-1) s(-1) at 20 MHz and 295 K). Kinetic inertness is improved by the rigidifying effect of the diaminocylohexane unit in the ligand skeleton (half-life of dissociation for physiological conditions is 6 orders of magnitude higher for [Gd(cddadpa)](-) (t1/2 =1.49×10(5)  h) than for [Gd(octapa)](-) . The kinetic inertness of this novel chelate is superior by 2-3 orders of magnitude compared to non-macrocyclic MRI contrast agents approved for clinical use.

The Relationship between NMR Chemical Shifts of Thermally Polarized and Hyperpolarized 89 Y Complexes and Their Solution Structures.

Recently developed dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) technology offers the potential of increasing the NMR sensitivity of even rare nuclei for biological imaging applications. Hyperpolarized 89 Y is an ideal candidate because of its narrow NMR linewidth, favorable spin quantum number (I=1/2 ), and long longitudinal relaxation times (T1 ). Strong NMR signals were detected in hyperpolarized 89 Y samples of a variety of yttrium complexes. A dataset of 89 Y NMR data composed of 23 complexes with polyaminocarboxylate ligands was obtained using hyperpolarized 89 Y measurements or 1 H,89 Y-HMQC spectroscopy. These data were used to derive an empirical equation that describes the correlation between the 89 Y chemical shift and the chemical structure of the complexes. This empirical correlation serves as a guide for the design of 89 Y sensors. Relativistic (DKH2) DFT calculations were found to predict the experimental 89 Y chemical shifts to a rather good accuracy.

Magnetic Anisotropies in Rhombic Lanthanide(III) Complexes Do Not Conform to Bleaney's Theory.

We report a complete set of magnetic susceptibilities of lanthanide complexes with a macrocyclic ligand based on a 3,6,10,13-tetraaza-1,8(2,6)-dipyridinacyclotetradecaphane platform containing four hydroxyethyl pendant arms (L(1)). The [LnL(1)](3+) complexes are isostructural along the lanthanide series from Ce(3+) to Yb(3+), with the only structural change observed along the series being the monotonous shortening of the Ln-donor distances due to lanthanide contraction. The (1)H NMR spectra point to a D2 symmetry of the [LnL(1)](3+) complexes in aqueous solution, which provides a unique opportunity for analysis of the rhombic magnetic anisotropies with an unequivocal location of the magnetic axes. The contact contributions for the observed paramagnetic shifts have been estimated with density functional theory calculations on the [GdL(1)](3+) complex. Subsequently, the pseudocontact shifts could be factored out, thereby giving access to the axial and rhombic contributions of the magnetic susceptibility tensor. Our results show that the calculated magnetic anisotropies do not follow the trends predicted by Bleaney's theory, particularly in the case of Ho(3+) and Er(3+) complexes.

Unexpected Changes in the Population of Coordination Isomers for the Lanthanide Ion Complexes of DOTMA-Tetraglycinate.

Lanthanide complexes with DOTA-tetraglycinate (DOTA-(gly)4) heavily favor the square antiprismatic (SAP) coordination isomer in aqueous solution, a structural feature that has made them useful as water-based paraCEST agents. In an effort to create amide-based paraCEST agents with rapid water exchange rates, we prepared the analogous tetraglycinate complexes with DOTMA, a ligand known to favor the twisted square antiprismatic (TSAP) coordination structures. Unexpectedly, NMR investigations show that the LnDOTMA-(gly)4 complexes, like the LnDOTA-(gly)4 complexes, also favor the SAP isomers in solution. This observation led to density functional theory (DFT) calculations in order to identify the energy terms that favor the SAP structures in lanthanide complexes formed with macrocyclic DOTA- and DOTMA-tetraamide ligands. The DFT calculations revealed that, regardless the nature of the ligand, the TSAP isomers present more negative hydration energies than the SAP counterparts. The extent to which the TSAP isomer is stabilized varies, however, depending on the ligand structure, resulting in different isomeric populations in solution.

Complexation of Ln(3+) Ions with Cyclam Dipicolinates: A Small Bridge that Makes Huge Differences in Structure, Equilibrium, and Kinetic Properties.

The coordination properties toward the lanthanide ions of two macrocyclic ligands based on a cyclam platform containing picolinate pendant arms have been investigated. The synthesis of the ligands was achieved by using the well-known bis-aminal chemistry. One of the cyclam derivatives (cb-tedpa(2-)) is reinforced with a cross-bridge unit, which results in exceptionally inert [Ln(cb-tedpa)](+) complexes. The X-ray structures of the [La(cb-tedpa)Cl], [Gd(cb-tedpa)](+), and [Lu(Me2tedpa)](+) complexes indicate octadentate binding of the ligands to the metal ions. The analysis of the Yb(3+)-induced shifts in [Yb(Me2tedpa)](+) indicates that this complex presents a solution structure very similar to that observed in the solid state for the Lu(3+) analogue. The X-ray structures of [La(H2Me2tedpa)2](3+) and [Yb(H2Me2tedpa)2](3+) complexes confirm the exocyclic coordination of the metal ions, which gives rise to coordination polymers with the metal coordination environment being fulfilled by oxygen atoms of the picolinate groups and water molecules. The X-ray structure of [Gd(Hcb-tedpa)2](+) also indicates exocyclic coordination that in this case results in a discrete structure with an eight-coordinated metal ion. The nonreinforced complexes [Ln(Me2tedpa)](+) were prepared and isolated as chloride salts in nonaqueous media. However, these complexes were found to undergo dissociation in aqueous solution, except in the case of the complexes with the smallest Ln(3+) ions (Ln(3+) = Yb(3+) and Lu(3+)). A DFT investigation shows that the increased stability of the [Ln(Me2tedpa)](+) complexes in solution across the lanthanide series is the result of an increased binding energy of the ligand due to the increased charge density of the Ln(3+) ion.

Transient versus Static Electron Spin Relaxation in Mn(2+) Complexes Relevant as MRI Contrast Agents.

The zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters of the [Mn(EDTA)(H2O)](2-)·2H2O and [Mn(MeNO2A)(H2O)]·2H2O systems were estimated by using DFT and ab initio CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations (EDTA = 2,2',2″,2‴-(ethane-1,2-diylbis(azanetriyl))tetraacetate; MeNO2A = 2,2'-(7-methyl-1,4,7-triazonane-1,4-diyl)diacetate). Subsequent molecular dynamics calculations performed within the atom-centered density matrix propagation (ADMP) approach provided access to the transient and static ZFS parameters, as well as to the correlation time of the transient ZFS. The calculated ZFS parameters present a reasonable agreement with the experimental values obtained from the analysis of (1)H relaxation data. The correlation times calculated for the two systems investigated turned out to be very short (τc ∼ 0.02-0.05 ps), which shows that the transient ZFS is modulated by molecular vibrations. On the contrary, the static ZFS is modulated by the rotation of the complexes in solution, which for the small complexes investigated here is characterized by rotational correlation times of τR ∼ 35-60 ps. As a result, electron spin relaxation in small Mn(2+) complexes is dominated by the static ZFS.

Exceptionally Inert Lanthanide(III) PARACEST MRI Contrast Agents Based on an 18-Membered Macrocyclic Platform.

We report a macrocyclic ligand based on a 3,6,10,13-tetraaza-1,8(2,6)-dipyridinacyclotetradecaphane platform containing four hydroxyethyl pendant arms (L(1)) that forms extraordinary inert complexes with Ln(3+) ions. The [EuL(1)](3+) complex does not undergo dissociation in 1 M HCl over a period of months at room temperature. Furthermore, high concentrations of phosphate and Zn(2+) ions at room temperature do not provoke metal-complex dissociation. The X-ray crystal structures of six Ln(3+) complexes reveal ten coordination of the ligand to the metal ions through the six nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle and the four oxygen atoms of the hydroxyethyl pendant arms. The analysis of the Yb(3+)- and Pr(3+)-induced paramagnetic (1)H NMR shifts show that the solid-state structures are retained in aqueous solution. The intensity of the (1)H NMR signal of bulk water can be modulated by saturation of the signals of the hydroxy protons of Pr(3+), Eu(3+), and Yb(3+) complexes following chemical-exchange saturation transfer (CEST). The ability of these complexes to provide large CEST effects at 25 and 37 °C and pH 7.4 was confirmed by using CEST magnetic resonance imaging experiments.

H4octapa: highly stable complexation of lanthanide(III) ions and copper(II).

The acyclic ligand octapa(4-) (H4octapa = 6,6'-((ethane-1,2-diylbis((carboxymethyl)azanediyl))bis(methylene))dipicolinic acid) forms stable complexes with the Ln(3+) ions in aqueous solution. The stability constants determined for the complexes with La(3+), Gd(3+), and Lu(3+) using relaxometric methods are log KLaL = 20.13(7), log KGdL = 20.23(4), and log KLuL = 20.49(5) (I = 0.15 M NaCl). High stability constants were also determined for the complexes formed with divalent metal ions such as Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) (log KZnL = 18.91(3) and log KCuL = 22.08(2)). UV-visible and NMR spectroscopic studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations point to hexadentate binding of the ligand to Zn(2+) and Cu(2+), the donor atoms of the acetate groups of the ligand remaining uncoordinated. The complexes formed with the Ln(3+) ions are nine-coordinated thanks to the octadentate binding of the ligand and the presence of a coordinated water molecule. The stability constants of the complexes formed with the Ln(3+) ions do not change significantly across the lanthanide series. A DFT investigation shows that this is the result of a subtle balance between the increased binding energies across the 4f period, which contribute to an increasing complex stability, and the parallel increase of the absolute values of the hydration free energies of the Ln(3+) ions. In the case of the [Ln(octapa)(H2O)](-) complexes the interaction between the amine nitrogen atoms of the ligand and the Ln(3+) ions is weakened along the lanthanide series, and therefore the increased electrostatic interaction does not overcome the increasing hydration energies. A detailed kinetic study of the dissociation of the [Gd(octapa)(H2O)](-) complex in the presence of Cu(2+) shows that the metal-assisted pathway is the main responsible for complex dissociation at pH 7.4 and physiological [Cu(2+)] concentration (1 µM).

Stabilizing divalent europium in aqueous solution using size-discrimination and electrostatic effects.

We report two macrocyclic ligands containing a 1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 fragment functionalized with either two picolinamide pendant arms (bpa18c6) or one picolinamide and one picolinate arm (ppa18c6(-)). The X-ray structure of [La(ppa18c6)(H2O)](2+) shows that the ligand binds to the metal ion using the six donor atoms of the crown moiety and the four donor atoms of the pendant arms, 11-coordination being completed by the presence of a coordinated water molecule. The X-ray structure of the [Sr(bpa18c6)(H2O)](2+) was also investigated due to the very similar ionic radii of Sr(2+) and Eu(2+). The structure of this complex is very similar to that of [La(ppa18c6)(H2O)](2+), with the metal ion being 11-coordinated. Potentiometric measurements were used to determine the stability constants of the complexes formed with La(3+) and Eu(3+). Both ligands present a very high selectivity for the large La(3+) ion over the smaller Eu(3+), with a size-discrimination ability that exceeds that of the analogous ligand containing two picolinate pendant arms reported previously (bp18c6(2-)). DFT calculations using the TPSSh functional and the large-core pseudopotential approximation provided stability trends in good agreement with the experimental values, indicating that charge neutral ligands derived from 1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 enhance the selectivity of the ligand for the large Ln(3+) ions. Cyclic voltammetry measurements show that the stabilization of Eu(2+) by these ligands follows the sequence bp18c6(2-) < ppa18c6(-) < bpa18c6 with half-wave potentials of -753 mV (bp18c6(2-)), -610 mV (ppa18c6(-)), and -453 mV (bpa18c6) versus Ag/AgCl. These values reveal that the complex of bpa18c6 possesses higher stability against oxidation than the aquated ion, for which an E1/2 value of -585 mV has been measured.

Gd(3+)-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent Responsive to Zn(2+).

We report the heteroditopic ligand H5L, which contains a DO3A unit for Gd(3+) complexation connected to an NO2A moiety through a N-propylacetamide linker. The synthesis of the ligand followed a convergent route that involved the preparation of 1,4-bis(tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane following the orthoamide strategy. The luminescence lifetimes of the Tb((5)D4) excited state measured for the TbL complex point to the absence of coordinated water molecules. Density functional theory calculations and (1)H NMR studies indicate that the EuL complex presents a square antiprismatic coordination in aqueous solution, where eight coordination is provided by the seven donor atoms of the DO3A unit and the amide oxygen atom of the N-propylacetamide linker. Addition of Zn(2+) to aqueous solutions of the TbL complex provokes a decrease of the emission intensity as the emission lifetime becomes shorter, which is a consequence of the coordination of a water molecule to the Tb(3+) ion upon Zn(2+) binding to the NO2A moiety. The relaxivity of the GdL complex recorded at 7 T (25 °C) increases by almost 150% in the presence of 1 equiv of Zn(2+), while Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) induced very small relaxivity changes. In vitro magnetic resonance imaging experiments confirmed the ability of GdL to provide response to the presence of Zn(2+).

Mono-, bi-, and trinuclear bis-hydrated Mn(2+) complexes as potential MRI contrast agents.

We report a series of ligands containing pentadentate 6,6'-((methylazanediyl)bis(methylene))dipicolinic acid binding units that form mono- (H2dpama), di- (mX(H2dpama)2), and trinuclear (mX(H2dpama)3) complexes with Mn2+ containing two coordinated water molecules per metal ion, which results in pentagonal bipyramidal coordination around the metal ions. In contrast, the hexadentate ligand 6,6'-((ethane-1,2-diylbis(azanediyl))bis(methylene))dipicolinic acid (H2bcpe) forms a complex with distorted octahedral coordination around Mn2+ that lacks coordinated water molecules. The protonation constants of the ligands and the stability constants of the Mn2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ complexes were determined using potentiometric and spectrophotometric titrations in 0.15 M NaCl. The pentadentate dpama2­ ligand and the di- and trinucleating mX(dpama)24­ and mX(dpama)36­ ligands provide metal complexes with stabilities that are very similar to that of the complex with the hexadentate ligand bcpe2­, with log ß101 values in the range 10.1­11.6. Cyclic voltammetry experiments on aqueous solutions of the [Mn(bcpe)] complex reveal a quasireversible system with a half-wave potential of +595 mV versus Ag/AgCl. However, [Mn(dpama)] did not suffer oxidation in the range 0.0­1.0 V, revealing a higher resistance toward oxidation. A detailed 1H NMRD and 17O NMR study provided insight into the parameters that govern the relaxivity for these systems. The exchange rate of the coordinated water molecules in [Mn(dpama)] is relatively fast, kex298 = (3.06 ± 0.16) × 108 s­1. The trinuclear [mX(Mn(dpama)(H2O)2)3] complex was found to bind human serum albumin with an association constant of 1286 ± 55 M­1 and a relaxivity of the adduct of 45.2 ± 0.6 mM­1 s­1 at 310 K and 20 MHz.

Toward the Prediction of Water Exchange Rates in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents: A Density Functional Theory Study.

We present a theoretical investigation of Gd-Owater bonds in different complexes relevant as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The analysis of the Ln-Owater distances, electron density (ρBCP), and electron localization function (ELF) at the bond critical points of [Ln(DOTA)(H2O)](-) and [Ln(DTPA-BMA)(H2O)] indicates that the strength of the Ln-Owater bonds follows the order DTPA-BMA > DOTA (M isomer) > DOTA (m isomer). The ELF values decrease along the 4f period as the Ln-Owater bonds get shorter, in line with the labile capping bond phenomenon. Extension of these calculations to other Gd(3+) complexes allowed us to correlate the experimentally observed water exchange rates and the calculated ρBCP and ELF values. The water exchange reaction becomes faster as the Gd-Owater bonds are weakened, which is reflected in longer bond distances and lower values of ρBCP and ELF. DKH2 calculations show that the two coordinated water molecules may also have significantly different (17)O hyperfine coupling constants (HFCCs).

Understanding stability trends along the lanthanide series.

The stability trends across the lanthanide series of complexes with the polyaminocarboxylate ligands TETA(4-) (H4TETA=2,2',2'',2'''-(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,4,8,11-tetrayl)tetraacetic acid), BCAED(4-) (H4BCAED=2,2',2'',2'''-{[(1,4-diazepane-1,4-diyl)bis(ethane-2,1-diyl)]bis(azanetriyl)}tetraacetic acid), and BP18C6(2-) (H2BP18C6=6,6'-[(1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane-7,16-diyl)bis(methylene)]dipicolinic acid) were investigated using DFT calculations. Geometry optimizations performed at the TPSSh/6-31G(d,p) level, and using a 46+4f(n) ECP for lanthanides, provide bond lengths of the metal coordination environments in good agreement with the experimental values observed in the X-ray structures. The contractions of the Ln(3+) coordination spheres follow quadratic trends, as observed previously for different isostructural series of complexes. We show here that the parameters obtained from the quantitative analysis of these data can be used to rationalize the observed stability trends across the 4f period. The stability trends along the lanthanide series were also evaluated by calculating the free energy for the reaction [La(L)](n+/-)(sol)+Ln(3+)(sol)→[Ln(L)](n+/-)(sol)+La(3+)(sol). A parameterization of the Ln(3+) radii was performed by minimizing the differences between experimental and calculated standard hydration free energies. The calculated stability trends are in good agreement with the experimental stability constants, which increase markedly across the series for BCAED(4-) complexes, increase smoothly for the TETA(4-) analogues, and decrease in the case of BP18C6(2-) complexes. The resulting stability trend is the result of a subtle balance between the increased binding energies of the ligand across the lanthanide series, which contribute to an increasing complex stability, and the increase in the absolute values of hydration energies along the 4f period.

High relaxivity Mn(2+)-based MRI contrast agents.

Stable Mn(2+) mono- and binuclear complexes containing pentadentate 6,6'-((methylazanediyl)bis(methylene))dipicolinic acid coordinating units give remarkably high relaxivities due to the presence of two inner-sphere water molecules. The mononuclear derivative binds human serum albumin (HSA) with an association constant of 3372 M(-1), which results in the replacement of the coordinated water molecules by donor atoms of protein residues. The dinuclear analogue also binds HSA while leaving one of the Mn(2+) centres exposed to the solvent with two coordinated water molecules. Thus, this complex shows remarkably high relaxivities upon protein binding (39.0 mM(-1) s(-1) per Mn, at 20 MHz and 37 °C).

Reasons behind the relative abundances of heptacoordinate complexes along the late first-row transition metal series.

A series of transition metal complexes [ML(1)] (H2L(1) = 1,4,10-trioxa-7,13-diazacyclopentadecane-N,N'-diacetic acid, M = Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn) have been prepared and characterized. The X-ray structures of the [CoL(1)] and [CuL(1)] complexes reveal that the metal ions are seven-coordinated with a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal coordination. The five donor atoms of the macrocycle define the pentagonal plane of the bipyramid, while two oxygen atoms of the carboxylate groups coordinate apically. The [NiL(1)] complex presents a very distorted structure with long Ni-O distances involving two oxygen atoms of the crown moiety [2.544(3) Å]. This distortion is related to the Jahn-Teller effect that is expected to operate in d(8) pentagonal bipyramidal complexes. The spectroscopic characterization of the [ZnL(1)] and [CuL(1)] complexes using NMR and EPR and the theoretical calculation of the (13)C NMR shifts and g- and A-tensors using DFT confirm that these complexes retain the pentagonal bipyramidal coordination in aqueous solution. The stability trend of the [ML(1)] complexes (Co(2+) > Ni(2+) < Cu(2+) > Zn(2+)), which is in contradiction with the Irving-Williams order, has been analyzed using DFT calculations (TPSSh functional). The free energy values calculated in the gas phase for [CoL(1)](g) + [M(H2O)6](2+)(g) → [ML(1)](g) + [Co(H2O)6](2+)(g) (M = Ni, Cu, Zn) reproduce fairly well the stability trend observed experimentally, the agreement being improved significantly upon inclusion of solvent effects. Our results indicate that the pentagonal bipyramidal coordination is particularly unfavorable for Ni(2+), and thus preorganized ligands that favor this geometry such as L(1) are selective for Co(2+) over Ni(2+) cations.

Supramolecular luminescent lanthanide dimers for fluoride sequestering and sensing.

Lanthanide complexes (Ln=Eu, Tb, and Yb) that are based on a C2 -symmetric cyclen scaffold were prepared and characterized. The addition of fluoride anions to aqueous solutions of the complexes resulted in the formation of dinuclear supramolecular compounds in which the anion is confined into the cavity that is formed by the two complexes. The supramolecular assembly process was monitored by UV/Vis absorption, luminescence, and NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The X-ray crystal structure of the europium dimer revealed that the architecture of the scaffold is stabilized by synergistic effects of the EuFEu bridging motive, π stacking interactions, and a four-component hydrogen-bonding network, which control the assembly of the two [EuL] entities around the fluoride ion. The strong association in water allowed for the luminescence sensing of fluoride down to a detection limit of 24 nM.

Self-aggregated dinuclear lanthanide(III) complexes as potential bimodal probes for magnetic resonance and optical imaging.

Homodinuclear lanthanide complexes (Ln = La, Eu, Gd, Tb, Yb and Lu) derived from a bis-macrocyclic ligand featuring two 2,2',2''-(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetic acid chelating sites linked by a 2,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine spacer (H2L(3)) were prepared and characterized. Luminescence lifetime measurements recorded on solutions of the Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes indicate the presence of one inner-sphere water molecule coordinated to each metal ion in these complexes. The overall luminescence quantum yields were determined (ϕ H2O = 0.01 for [Eu2(L(3))] and 0.50 for [Tb2(L(3))] in 0.01 M TRIS/HCl, pH 7.4; TRIS = tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane), pointing to an effective sensitization of the metal ion by the bispyrazolylpyridyl unit of the ligand, especially with Tb. The nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profiles recorded for [Gd2(L(3))] are characteristic of slowly tumbling systems, showing a low-field plateau and a broad maximum around 30 MHz. This suggests the occurrence of aggregation of the complexes giving rise to slowly rotating species. A similar behavior is observed for the analogous Gd(III) complex containing a 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl spacer ([Gd2(L(1))]). The relaxivity of [Gd2(L(3))] recorded at 0.5 T and 298 K (pH 6.9) amounts to 13.7 mM(-1) s(-1). The formation of aggregates has been confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments, which provided mean particle sizes of 114 and 38 nm for [Gd2(L(1))] and [Gd2(L(3))], respectively. TEM images of [Gd2(L(3))] indicate the formation of nearly spherical nanosized aggregates with a mean diameter of about 41 nm, together with some nonspherical particles with larger size.

Definition of an intramolecular Eu-to-Eu energy transfer within a discrete [Eu2L] complex in solution.

Ligand L, based on two do3a moieties linked by the methylene groups of 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, was synthesized and characterized. The addition of Ln salts to an aqueous solution of L (0.01 M Tris-HCl, pH 7.4) led to the successive formation of [LnL] and [Ln(2)L] complexes, as evidenced by UV/Vis and fluorescence titration experiments. Homodinuclear [Ln(2)L] complexes (Ln = Eu, Gd, Tb, Yb, and Lu) were prepared and characterized. The (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra of the Lu and Yb complexes in D(2)O solution (pD = 7.0) showed C(1) symmetry of these species in solution, pointing to two different chemical environments for the two lanthanide cations. The analysis of the chemical shifts of the Yb complex indicated that the two coordination sites present square antiprismatic (SAP) coordination environments around the metal ions. The spectroscopic properties of the [Tb(2)L] complex upon ligand excitation revealed conventional behavior with τ(H2O) = 2.05(1) ms and ϕ(H2O) = 51%, except for the calculation of the hydration number obtained from the luminescent lifetimes in H(2)O and D(2)O, which pointed to a non-integer value of 0.6 water molecules per Tb(III) ion. In contrast, the Eu complex revealed surprising features such as: 1) the presence of two and up to five components in the (5)D(0)→(7)F(0) and (5)D(0)→(7)F(1) emission bands, respectively; 2) marked differences between the normalized spectra obtained in H(2)O and D(2)O solutions; and 3) unconventional temporal evolution of the luminescence intensity at certain wavelengths, the intensity profile first displaying a rising step before the occurrence of the expected decay. Additional spectroscopic experiments performed on [Gd(2-x)Eu(x)L] complexes (x = 0.1 and 1.9) confirmed the presence of two distinct Eu sites with hydration numbers of 0 (site I) and 2 (site II), and showed that the unconventional temporal evolution of the emission intensity is the result of an unprecedented intramolecular Eu-to-Eu energy-transfer process. A mathematical model was developed to interpret the experimental data, leading to energy-transfer rates of 0.98 ms(-1) for the transfer from the site with q=0 to that with q=2 and vice versa. Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations performed at the B3LYP level were used to investigate the conformation of the complex in solution, and to estimate the intermetallic distance, which provided Förster radii (R(0)) values of 8.1 Šfor the energy transfer from site I to site II, and 6.8 Šfor the reverse energy transfer. These results represent the first evidence of an intramolecular energy-transfer equilibrium between two identical lanthanide cations within a discrete molecular complex in solution.