Temperature Dependence of Fundamental Photophysical Properties of [Eu(MeOH-d4)9]3+ Solvates and [Eu·DOTA(MeOH-d4)]- Complexes

Step-wise changes in the excited state lifetime of [Eu(D2O)9]3+ and [Eu(DOTA)(D2O)]- as a function of the number of inner-sphere O-H oscillators

Lanthanide luminescence is dominated by quenching by high-energy oscillators in the chemical environment. The rate of non-radiative energy transfer to a single H2O molecule coordinated to a Eu3+ ion exceeds the usual rates of emission by an order of magnitude. We know these rates, but the details of these energy transfer processes are yet to be established. In this work, we study the quenching rates of [Eu(D2O)9]3+ and [Eu(DOTA)(D2O)]- in H2O/D2O mixtures by sequentially exchanging the deuterons with protons. Flash freezing the solutions allows us to identify species with various D/H contents in solution and thus to quantify the energy transfer processes to individual OH-oscillators. This is not possible in solution due to fast exchange in the ensembles present at room temperature. We conclude that the energy transfer processes are accurately described, predicted, and simulated using a step-wise addition of the rates of quenching by each O-H oscillator. This documents the sequential increase in the rate of the energy transfer processes in the quenching of lanthanide luminescence, and further provides a methodology to identify isotopic impurities in deuterated lanthanide systems in solution.

Mapping the distribution of electronic states within the 5D4 and 7F6 levels of Tb3+ complexes with optical spectroscopy

The Tb(III) ion has the most intense luminescence of the trivalent lanthanide(III) ions. In contrast to Eu(III), where the two levels only include a single state, the high number of electronic states in the ground (7F6) and emitting (5D4) levels makes detailed interpretations of the electronic structure-the crystal field-difficult. Here, luminescence emission and excitation spectra of Tb(III) complexes with 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA, [Tb(DOTA)(H2O)]-), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, [Tb(EDTA)(H2O)3]-) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA, [Tb(DTPA)(H2O)]2-) as well as the Tb(III) aqua ion ([Tb(H2O)9]3+) were recorded at room temperature and in frozen solution. Using these data the electronic structure of the 5D4 multiplets of Tb(III) was mapped by considering the transitions to the singly degenerate 7F0 state. A detailed spectroscopic investigation was performed and it was found that the 5D4 multiplet could accurately be described as a single band for [Tb(H2O)9]3+, [Tb(DOTA)(H2O)]- and [Tb(EDTA)(H2O)3]-. In contrast, for [Tb(DTPA)(H2O)]2- two bands were needed. These results demonstrated the ability of describing the electronic structure of the emitting 5D4 multiplet using emission spectra. This offers an avenue for investigating the relationship between molecular structure and luminescent properties in detailed photophysical studies of Tb(III) ion complexes.

Effect of buffers and pH in antenna sensitized Eu(III) luminescence

The photophysics of a europium(III) complex of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacycododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid-10-(2-methylene)-1-azathioxanthone was investigated in three buffer systems and at three pH values. The buffers-phosphate buffered saline (PBS), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), and universal buffer (UB)-had no effect on the europium luminescence, but a lower overall emission intensity was determined in HEPES. It was found that this was due to quenching of the 1-azathioxanthone first excited singlet state by HEPES. The effect of pH on the photophysics of the complex was found to be minimal, and protonation of the pyridine nitrogen was found to be irrelevant. Even so, pH was shown to change the intensity ratio between 1-azathioxanthone fluorescence and europium luminescence. It was concluded that the full photophysics of a potential molecular probe should be investigated to achieve the best possible results in any application.

Long story short: donor set symmetry in [Eu(DOTA)(H2O)]- crystals determines the electronic structure

Lanthanide complexes of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid DOTA have been studied in great detail due to their use as MRI contrast agents. Since the first report from Desreux in 1980, the Ln[DOTA]^- complexes of gadolinium(III) in particular have been thoroughly investigated. The forms of the nine-coordinated [Ln(DOTA)(H₂O)]^- complexes are well known, and the ligand backbone has been used extensively to create functional MRI contrast agents, luminescent probes, and as a model system for studying the properties of lanthanide(III) ions. In solution, the photophysical properties have been mapped, but as the structures are not known, direct structure-property relationships have not been created. Here, the electronic properties of two Eu[DOTA] compounds (1 and 2) and a Eu[DOTA]-like compound (3) were studied using single-crystal luminescence spectroscopy. The donor set in the three compounds is identical (4N 4O 1O), and using the symmetry deviation value σ_ideal it was shown that the coordination geometry is close to identical. Nevertheless, the electronic properties evaluated using the luminescence spectrum were found to differ significantly between the three compounds. The magnitude of the crystal field splitting was found not to scale with the symmetry of the coordination geometry. It was concluded that the donor set dictates the splitting, yet the structure-property relationships governing the electronic properties of europium(III) ions still elude us.

A high-sensitivity rapid acquisition spectrometer for lanthanide(III) luminescence

Detecting luminescence beyond 750-800 nm becomes problematic as most conventional detectors are less sensitive in this range, and as simple corrections stops being accurate. Lanthanide luminescence occurs in narrow bands across the spectrum from 350-2000 nm. The most emissive lanthanide(III) ions have bands from 450 nm to 850 nm, some with additional bands in the NIR. Investigating the NIR bands are hard, but the difficulties start already at 700 nm. In general, the photon flux from lanthanide(III) emitters is not great, and the bands beyond 700 nm are very weak, we therefore decided to build a spectrometer based on cameras for microscopy with single-photon detection capabilities. This was found to allieviate all limitations and to allow for fast and efficient recording of luminescence spectra in the range from 450 to 950 nm. The spectrometer characteristics were investigated and the performance was benchmarked against two commercial spectrometers. We conclude that this spectrometer is ideal for investigating lanthanide luminescence, an all other emitters with emission in the target range.

Revisiting the assignment of innocent and non-innocent counterions in lanthanide(III) solution chemistry

Lanthanides are found in critical applications from display technology to renewable energy. Often, these rare earth elements are used as alloys or functional materials, yet access to them is through solution processes. In aqueous solutions, the rare earths are found predominantly as trivalent ions and charge balance dictates that counterions are present. The fast ligand exchange and lack of directional bonding in lanthanide complexes have led to questions regarding the speciation of Ln³⁺ solvates in the presence of various counterions and the distinction between innocent = non-coordinating and non-innocent = coordinating counterions. There is limited agreement as to which group counterions belong to, which led to this report. By using Eu³⁺ luminescence, it was possible to clearly distinguish between coordinating and non-coordinating ions. To interpret the results, it was required to bridge the descriptions of ion pairing and coordination. The data-in the form of Eu³⁺ luminescence spectra and luminescence lifetimes from solutions with varying concentrations of acetate, chloride, nitrate, sulfate, perchlorate and triflate-was contrasted to those obtained with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA^4-), which allowed for the distinction between three Ln³⁺-anion interaction types. It was possible to conclude which counterions are truly innocent (e.g. ClO₄^- and OTf^-) and which clearly coordinate (e.g. NO₃^- and AcO^-). Finally, a considerable amount of data from systems studied under similar conditions allowed the minimum perturbation arising from the inner sphere or outer sphere coordination in Eu³⁺ complexes to be identified.

Versatile Macrocyclic Platform for the Complexation of [natY/90Y]Yttrium and Lanthanide Ions

We report a macrocyclic ligand (H3L6) based on a 3,6,10,13-tetraaza-1,8(2,6)-dipyridinacyclotetradecaphane platform containing three acetate pendant arms and a benzyl group attached to the fourth nitrogen atom of the macrocycle. The X-ray structures of the YL6 and TbL6 complexes reveal nine coordination of the ligand to the metal ions through the six nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle and three oxygen atoms of the carboxylate pendants. A combination of NMR spectroscopic studies (1H, 13C, and 89Y) and DFT calculations indicated that the structure of the YL6 complex in the solid state is maintained in an aqueous solution. The detailed study of the emission spectra of the EuL6 and TbL6 complexes revealed Ln3+-centered emission with quantum yields of 7.0 and 60%, respectively. Emission lifetime measurements indicate that the ligand offers good protection of the metal ions from surrounding water molecules, preventing the coordination of water molecules. The YL6 complex is remarkably inert with respect to complex dissociation, with a lifetime of 1.7 h in 1 M HCl. On the other hand, complex formation is fast (∼1 min at pH 5.4, 2 × 10-5 M). Studies using the 90Y-nuclide confirmed fast radiolabeling since [90Y]YL6 is nearly quantitatively formed (radiochemical yield (RCY) > 95) in a short time over a broad range of pH values from ca. 2.4 to 9.0. Challenging experiments in the presence of excess ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and in human serum revealed good stability of the [90Y]YL6 complex. All of these experiments combined suggest the potential application of H3L6 derivatives as Y-based radiopharmaceuticals.

Arel: Investigating [Eu(H2O)9]3+ Photophysics and Creating a Method to Bypass Luminescence Quantum Yield Determinations

Lanthanide luminescence has been treated separate from molecular photophysics, although the underlying phenomena are the same. As the optical transitions observed in the trivalent lanthanide ions are forbidden, they do belong to the group that molecular photophysics has yet to conquer, yet the experimental descriptors remain valid. Herein, the luminescence quantum yields (ϕ_lum), luminescence lifetimes (τ_obs), oscillator strengths (f), and the rates of nonradiative (k_nr) and radiative (k_r ≡ A) deactivation of [Eu(H₂O)₉]³⁺ were determined. Further, it was shown that instead of a full photophysical characterization, it is possible to relate changes in transition probabilities to the relative parameter A_rel, which does not require reference data. While A_rel does not afford comparisons between experiments, it resolves emission intensity changes due to emitter properties from intensity changes due to environmental effects and differences in the number of photons absorbed. When working with fluorescence this may seem trivial; when working with lanthanide luminescence it is not.