Bimetallic Complexes of Ytterbium and Europium Stabilized by Sterically Demanding Dipyridylamides

Tris-Silanide f-Block Complexes: Insights into Paramagnetic Influence on NMR Chemical Shifts

The paramagnetism of f-block ions has been exploited in chiral shift reagents and magnetic resonance imaging, but these applications tend to focus on 1H NMR shifts as paramagnetic broadening makes less sensitive nuclei more difficult to study. Here we report a solution and solid-state (ss) 29Si NMR study of an isostructural series of locally D 3h -symmetric early f-block metal(III) tris-hypersilanide complexes, [M{Si(SiMe3)3}3(THF)2] (1-M; M = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, U); 1-M were also characterized by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, EPR, ATR-IR, and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopies, SQUID magnetometry, and elemental analysis. Only one SiMe3 signal was observed in the 29Si ssNMR spectra of 1-M, while two SiMe3 signals were seen in solution 29Si NMR spectra of 1-La and 1-Ce. This is attributed to dynamic averaging of the SiMe3 groups in 1-M in the solid state due to free rotation of the M-Si bonds and dissociation of THF from 1-M in solution to give the locally C 3v -symmetric complexes [M{Si(SiMe3)3}3(THF) n ] (n = 0 or 1), which show restricted rotation of M-Si bonds on the NMR time scale. Density functional theory and complete active space self-consistent field spin-orbit calculations were performed on 1-M and desolvated solution species to model paramagnetic NMR shifts. We find excellent agreement of experimental 29Si NMR data for diamagnetic 1-La, suggesting n = 1 in solution and reasonable agreement of calculated paramagnetic shifts of SiMe3 groups for 1-M (M = Pr and Nd); the NMR shifts for metal-bound 29Si nuclei could only be reproduced for diamagnetic 1-La, showing the current limitations of pNMR calculations for larger nuclei.

Impact of 1,10-Phenanthroline-Induced Intermediate Valence on the Luminesence of Divalent Europium Halides

Starting from EuX₂ (X = Cl, Br, I), we systematically investigated a variety of divalent europium complexes containing bidentate 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) ligands. Depending on the Eu/Phen ratio, mono-, di-, and polynuclear complexes are formed, with the latter yielding one-dimensional _∞¹[EuBr₂(phen)] chains. Seven new divalent europium complexes, [Eu(phen)₄(H₂O)]Br₂·2MeCN, [Eu(phen)₄]I₂·1.7Tol, [EuBr(phen)₃]₂Br₂·4MeCN, [EuCl₂(phen)₂]₂·2MeCN, [EuBr₂(phen)₂]₂, [EuI₂(phen)₂]₂, and [EuBr₂(phen)]_x, are presented in this work. All species show remarkable optical properties based on a partial electron transfer from the Eu^II center to the Phen ligand. The photophysical characterization is further supported by electrochemistry studies in order to describe the intermediate valence of the Eu center.

The Earlier the Better: Structural Analysis and Separation of Lanthanides with Pyrroloquinoline Quinone

Lanthanides (Ln) are critical raw materials, however, their mining and purification have a considerable negative environmental impact and sustainable recycling and separation strategies for these elements are needed. In this study, the precipitation and solubility behavior of Ln complexes with pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), the cofactor of recently discovered lanthanide (Ln) dependent methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) enzymes, is presented. In this context, the molecular structure of a biorelevant europium PQQ complex was for the first time elucidated outside a protein environment. The complex crystallizes as an inversion symmetric dimer, Eu2 PQQ2 , with binding of Eu in the biologically relevant pocket of PQQ. LnPQQ and Ln1Ln2PQQ complexes were characterized by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, 151 Eu-Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray total scattering, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). It is shown that a natural enzymatic cofactor is capable to achieve separation by precipitation of the notoriously similar, and thus difficult to separate, lanthanides to some extent.

Variable coordination of carbazolyl-bis(tetrazole) ligands in lanthanide chemistry

Lanthanide complexes of 1,8-bis(2′-isopropyltetrazo-5′-yl)-3,6-di-tert-butylcarbazolide adopt geometries that include planar, buckled and tetrazolyl-bridged tridentate, as well as bidentate, bonding modes.

Divalent europium and ytterbium complexes supported by a bulky 2-pyridyl amido ligand: synthesis, structure and reactivity studies

Metallation of the N-arylated 2-pyridyl amine [HN(C6H3Pr(i)2-2,6)(2-C5H3N-6-Me)] (1) with potassium hydride in Et2O and THF yielded potassium amides [{KL(OEt2)}2] [L = N(C6H3Pr(i)2-2,6)(2-C5H3N-6-Me)] (2) and KL(THF)2 (3), respectively. Treatment of LnI2(THF)2 (Ln = Eu, Yb) with 2 afforded the corresponding Ln(II) amido complexes [EuL(μ-L)2K(THF)] (4) and [YbL2(THF)2] (5). In contrast, an analogous reaction of SmI2(THF)2 with 2 only led to the isolation of homoleptic Sm(III) triamide [SmL3] (6). The reaction chemistry of divalent complexes 4 and 5 was examined. Oxidation of the Eu(II) amido complex 4 by iodine yielded the trivalent [EuL3] (7), whereas addition of Yb(II) diamide 5 to iodine led to the isolation of the bis(amido) Yb(III) iodide complex [YbL2(I)(THF)] (8). Complex 8 could also be prepared by the reaction of 5 with copper(I) iodide. A subsequent reaction of 8 with KOBut gave, unexpectedly, the Yb(III) triamide [YbL3] (9). Reactions of complex 5 with diphenyl dichalcogenides PhEEPh (E = S, Se, Te) also gave [YbL3] (9) as the only isolable product. The solid-state structures of complexes 2 and 4–9 were elucidated by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Developments in the Coordination Chemistry of Europium(II)

Recent advances in the coordination chemistry of Eu(2+) are reviewed. Common synthetic routes for generating discrete Eu(2+)-containing complexes reported since 2000 are summarized, followed by a description of the reactivity of these complexes and their applications in reduction chemistry, polymerization, luminescence, and as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. Rapid development of the coordination chemistry of Eu(2+) has led to an upsurge in the utilization of Eu(2+)-containing complexes in synthetic chemistry, materials science, and medicine.

A series of lanthanide-organic polymers incorporating nitrogen-heterocyclic and aliphatic carboxylate mixed-ligands: structures, luminescent and magnetic properties

Seven new lanthanide-organic coordination polymers incorporating both nitrogen heterocyclic dicarboxylate and various auxiliary ligands, {[Ln(3)(Hpimda)(4)(mu(2)-HCOO).5H(2)O].H(2)O}(n)} Ln = Sm (1), Ln = Eu (2), Ln = Gd (3), Ln = Dy (4), Ln = Ho (5), {[Ce(2)(Hpimda)(2)(mu(4)-C(2)O(4)).8H(2)O].2H(2)O}(n) (6), {[Yb(2)(pyda)(mu(4)-C(2)O(4))(2).4H(2)O].3H(2)O}(n) (7) (H(3)pimda = 1H-2-propyl-4,5-imidazoledicarboxylic acid, H(2)pyda = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid) have been fabricated successfully and characterized systematically. Complexes 1-5 are isomorphous and isostructural, and are built from two-dimensional (2-D) double-decker networks based on the tetranuclear basic carboxylate as a secondary building unit (SBU). Both polymers 6 and 7 feature a (3,4)-connected 3-D framework consisting of 2-D lanthanide-organic hexagonal grids, which are further interlinked via the mu(4)-oxalate ligand. The results of magnetic determination show the same end-to-end bridging fashion of formate group results in different magnetic properties occurring between lanthanide centers. The luminescence emission spectra of the complexes vary depending on the lanthanide ion present.