Luminescence Properties and Quenching Mechanisms of Ln(Tf2N)3 Complexes in the Ionic Liquid bmpyr Tf2N

Impact of ligand-centered excited states on luminescence sensitization in Pr3+ complexes with β-diketones

In this study, two novel Pr³⁺ complexes with different 1,3-diketonate ligands were synthesized and investigated. To study the effect of the ancillary ligand on the energy transfer mechanisms in the complexes, a phenanthroline ligand was introduced. To take into account the influence of the ligand environment composed of different ligands on the energy transfer and relaxation processes, we compared the synthesized compounds with a similar complex containing the phenanthroline ligand. The spectroscopic studies in the visible and near-infrared spectral regions were supplemented with DFT and TD-DFT calculations. We found two ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LLCT) states, with one state corresponding to energy transfer between 1,3-diketones and the other - to energy transfer from the 1,3-diketone to the phenanthroline motif. It was demonstrated that optical excitation via the latter channel leads to a fourfold increase in the luminescence quantum yield as compared with excitation via the π-π^∗ transitions in 1,3-diketones. Moreover, both LLCT states provide sensitization of the Pr³⁺ luminescence involving the ³P₀ and ³P₁ levels.

Luminescent Ln-Ionic Liquids beyond Europium

Searching in the Web of Knowledge for “ionic liquids” AND “luminescence” AND “lanthanide”, around 260 entries can be found, of which a considerable number refer solely or primarily to europium (90%, ~234). Europium has been deemed the best lanthanide for luminescent applications, mainly due to its efficiency in sensitization, longest decay times, and the ability to use its luminescence spectra to probe the coordination geometry around the metal. The remaining lanthanides can also be of crucial importance due to their different colors, sensitivity, and capability as probes. In this manuscript, we intend to shed some light on the existing published work on the remaining lanthanides. In some cases, they appear in papers with europium, but frequently in a subordinate position, and in fewer cases then the main protagonist of the study. All of them will be assessed and presented in a concise manner; they will be divided into two main categories: lanthanide compounds dissolved in ionic liquids, and lanthanide-based ionic liquids. Finally, some analysis of future trends is carried out highlighting some future promising fields, such as ionogels.

Isoquinoline-based Eu(iii) luminescent probes for citrate sensing in complex matrix

A neutral Eu(iii) complex containing the S,S enantiomer of isoQC3A^3- ligand (isoQC3A^3- = N-isoquinolyl-N,N',N'-trans-l,2-cyclohexylenediaminetriacetate) was synthesized and characterized. The complex was spectroscopically investigated and the results compared with those obtained for the similar bis-anionic ligand bisoQcd^2- (bisoQcd^2- = N,N'-bis(2-isoquinolinmethyl)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane N,N'-diacetate). Both Eu(iii)-complexes show similar binding constants upon titration with the main analytes contained in interstitial extracellular fluid (i.e. hydrogen carbonate, serum albumin and citrate). However, the analyte affinity is accompanied by different enhancements of the Eu(iii) intrinsic quantum yield (QY). Structures and hydration numbers of the complexes are determined by luminescence decay measurements and DFT calculations. The QYs as well as the binding constants of the individual adducts of the complexes with hydrogen carbonate, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and citrate are determined. The study of the Eu(iii) emission upon the systematic variation of one analyte in a complex mixture has been carried out to predict the performance of the luminescent sensor in conditions close to the real extracellular environment. Both Eu(iii) complexes can detect citrate at extracellular concentrations up to 500 μM, even at millimolar concentrations of the other interfering species. In the case of the Eu(bisoQcd)OTf complex, an increase of 23% of the Eu(iii) luminescence intensity at 615 nm upon addition of 0.3 mM of citrate was recorded. This feature makes the latter complex a viable probe for luminescence analysis of citrate in a complex matrix.

Recent Progress in Ionic Liquid Extraction for the Separation of Rare Earth Elements

This review summarizes recent progress in solvent extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) using an ionic liquid (IL) as the extraction solvent. These IL extraction systems are advantageous owing to the affinity of ILs for both charged and neutral hydrophobic species, in contrast to conventional organic solvent extraction systems. Herein, REE extraction studies using ILs are detailed and classified based on the type of extraction system, namely extraction using anionic ligands, extraction using neutral ligands, synergistic extraction, extraction without extractants, and a specific system using task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs). In IL extraction systems, the extracted complexes are often different from those in organic solvent systems, and the REE extraction and separation efficiencies are often significantly enhanced. Synergistic IL extraction is an effective approach to improving the extractability and separability of REEs. The development of novel TSILs suitable for IL extraction systems is also effective for REE separation.

Effect of the Heteroaromatic Antenna on the Binding of Chiral Eu(III) Complexes to Bovine Serum Albumin

The cationic enantiopure (R,R) and luminescent Eu(III) complex [Eu(bisoQcd)(H₂O)₂] OTf (with bisoQcd = N,N′-bis(2-isoquinolinmethyl)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane N,N′-diacetate and OTf = triflate) was synthesized and characterized. At physiological pH, the 1:1 [Eu(bisoQcd)(H₂O)₂]⁺ species, possessing two water molecules in the inner coordination sphere, is largely dominant. The interaction with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by means of several experimental techniques, such as luminescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), molecular docking (MD), and molecular dynamics simulations (MDS). In this direction, a ligand competition study was also performed by using three clinically established drugs (i.e., ibuprofen, warfarin, and digitoxin). The nature of this interaction is strongly affected by the type of the involved heteroaromatic antenna in the Eu(III) complexes. In fact, the presence of isoquinoline rings drives the corresponding complex toward the protein superficial area containing the tryptophan residue 134 (Trp134). As the main consequence, the metal center undergoes the loss of one water molecule upon interaction with the side chain of a glutamic acid residue. On the other hand, the similar complex containing pyridine rings ([Eu(bpcd)(H₂O)₂]Cl with bpcd = N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane N,N′-diacetate) interacts more weakly with the protein in a different superficial cavity, without losing the coordinated water molecules.

The effect of the antenna moiety on the interaction of two new luminescent Eu(III) complexes with BSA was studied. Results show that the complexes can be conveniently exploited as optical probes for albumin serum proteins by means of opposite mechanisms (switch-on−off of the luminescent signal).

Forcing Dicyanamide Coordination to f-Elements by Dissolution in Dicyanamide-Based Ionic Liquids

A robust general route to lanthanide dicyanamide (DCA^–) complexes has been developed where f-element salts are dissolved in DCA^–-based ionic liquids (ILs) directly or formed in situ, forcing coordination of these normally weakly coordinating soft N-donor anions, even in an ambient, non-moisture-excluding environment. A series of lanthanide complexes [C₂mim][Ln(DCA)₄(H₂O)₄] (C₂mim = 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium; Ln = La, Nd, Eu, Tb, Dy, and Yb) and [C₂mim]_3n[La(OH₂)₄(μ²-DCA)₄]_n[La(OH₂)₂(μ³-DCA)₃(μ²-DCA)₄]_2n(Cl)_4n were crystallized under a variety of conditions using this methodology and structurally characterized using single crystal X-ray diffraction. Although not all examples were isostructural, the dominant feature across the series was the presence of [Ln(DCA)₄(H₂O)₄]⁻ anionic nodes with all terminal DCA^– ligands accepting hydrogen bonds from the coordinated water molecules forming a 3D metal organic framework. To determine if any structural clues might aid in the further development of the synthetic methodology, the metal-free IL [C₁mim][DCA] (C₁mim = 1,3-dimethylimidazolium), a room-temperature solid, crystalline analogue of the reaction IL, which is liquid at room temperature, was also prepared and structurally characterized. The ready isolation of these compounds allowed us to begin an investigation of the physical properties such as the luminescence at room and low temperatures for the Eu, Tb, and Dy representatives.

Direct dissolution of lanthanide chloride hydrates in the DCA⁻ ionic liquids leads to coordination of DCA⁻ anions to Ln³⁺ under full displacement of chloride and partial displacement of water ligands leading to the formation of metal organic frameworks under ambient conditions. X-ray analyses reveal a significant influence of the hydrogen bonding and lanthanides’ size on crystallographic disorder in their crystal structures.

A luminescent lyotropic liquid crystal with UV irradiation induced photochromism

Multicolored photoluminescence induced by UV irradiation in soft materials has invaluable potential in display and detection applications. Here, an ionic liquid (ethylammonium nitrate, EAN)-mediated luminescent lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) has been fabricated, where an europium complex with two ligands (Eu(DBM)₃BQ, DBM = dibenzoylmethane and BQ = 2,2'-biquinoline) was doped. The obtained LLC exhibited enhanced fluorescence intensity and lifetime compared to those of Eu(DBM)₃BQ in EAN solution. Interestingly, the luminescent LLC color from the initial red emission of the complex was changed gradually to green when the UV exposure was extended. Though the DBM ligand displayed the typical photo-degradation, the emission intensity of BQ increased drastically. A mechanism based on an UV-induced trans-to-cis isomerization of BQ was proposed to explain such an unusual luminescence phenomenon. Both the experimental and computational results indicated an intra ligand charge transfer (ILCT) accompanied with the BQ isomerization under continuous UV irradiation, which resulted in the enhanced green light emission. The results obtained here are referable for better understanding the interplay between weak interactions and modulation of novel lanthanide-based photochromism systems under UV exposure.

Eu(iii) and Tb(iii) complexes of 6-fold coordinating ligands showing high affinity for the hydrogen carbonate ion: a spectroscopic and thermodynamic study

In the present contribution, four classes of Ln(iii) complexes (Ln = Eu and Tb) have been synthesized and characterized in aqueous solution. They differ by charge, Ln(bpcd)+ [bpcd2- = N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane N,N'-diacetate] and Ln(bQcd)+ (bQcd2- = N,N'-bis(2-quinolinmethyl)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane N,N'-diacetate) being positively charged and Ln(PyC3A) (PyC3A3- = N-picolyl-N,N',N'-trans-l,2-cyclohexylenediaminetriacetate) and Ln(QC3A) (QC3A3- = N-quinolyl-N,N',N'-trans-l,2-cyclohexylenediaminetriacetate) being neutral. Combined DFT, spectrophotometric and potentiometric studies reveal the presence, under physiological conditions (pH 7.4), of a couple of equally and highly stable isomers differing by the stereochemistry of the ligands (trans-N,N and trans-O,O for bpcd2- and bQcd2-; trans-O,O and trans-N,O for PyC3A3- and QC3A3-). Their high log β values (9.97 < log β < 15.68), the presence of an efficient antenna effect and the strong increase of the Ln(iii) luminescence intensity as a function of the hydrogen carbonate concentration in physiological solution, render these complexes as very promising optical probes for a selective detection of HCO3-in cellulo or in extracellular fluid. This particularly applies to the cationic Eu(bpcd)+, Tb(bpcd)+ and Eu(bQcd)+ complexes, which are capable of guesting up to two hydrogen carbonate anions in the inner coordination sphere of the metal ion, so that they show an unprecedented affinity towards HCO3- (log K for the formation of the adduct in the 4.6-5.9 range).

Role of Tf2N− anions in the ionic liquid–water distribution of europium(iii) chelates

The replacement of water molecules of [Eu(tta)₃(H₂O)₃] with Tf₂N⁻ was evidenced in water-saturated [C_nmim][Tf₂N] by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy.

Influence of the ionic liquid cation on the solvent extraction of trivalent rare-earth ions by mixtures of Cyanex 923 and ionic liquids

Trivalent rare-earth ions were extracted from nitric acid medium by the neutral phosphine oxide extractant Cyanex 923 into ionic liquid phases containing the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion. Five different cations were considered: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium, methyltributylammonium, methyltrioctylammonium and trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium. The extraction behavior of neodymium(iii) was investigated as a function of various parameters: pH, extractant concentration, concentration of the neodymium(iii) ion in the aqueous feed and concentration of the salting-out agent. The loading capacity of the ionic liquid phase was studied. The extraction efficiency increased with increasing pH of the aqueous feed solution. The extraction occurred for all ionic liquids via an ion-exchange mechanism and the extraction efficiency could be related to the solubility of the ionic liquid cation in the aqueous phase: high distribution ratios for hydrophilic cations and low ones for hydrophobic cations. Addition of nitrate ions to the aqueous phase resulted in an increase in extraction efficiency for ionic liquids with hydrophobic cations due to extraction of neutral complexes. Neodymium(iii) could be stripped from the ionic liquid phase by 0.5-1.0 M nitric acid solutions and the extracting phase could be reused. The extractability of other rare earths present in the mixture was compared for the five ionic liquids.

Enhanced energy transfer efficiency and stability of europium β-diketonate complex in ionic liquid-based lyotropic liquid crystals

The self-assembly of luminescent lyotropic liquid crystals with europium β-diketonate complex confined within via hydrogen bonds between P123 and imidazolium cations is demonstrated.

catena-Poly[1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium [[dichlorido(methanol-κO)(propan-2-ol-κO)lanthanate(III)]-di-μ-chlorido]]

The title compound, (C₈H₁₅N₂)[LaCl₄(CH₃OH)(C₃H₇OH)], consists of one 1-butyl-3-methyl­imidazolium (BMI⁺) cation and one hexa­hedral tetra­chlorido(methanol)(propan-2-ol)lanthanate anion. The La^III ion is eight-coordinate, with the La^III ion bridged by a pair of Cl atoms, so forming chains propagating along the a-axis direction. Each La^III ion is further coordinated by two isolated Cl atoms, one methanol and one propan-2-ol mol­ecule. The coordinated methanol and propan-2-ol mol­ecules of the anion form O—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds with the Cl atoms of inversion-related anions. The BMI⁺ cation froms C—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds with the Cl atoms of the anion. The anions are located in the C faces of the triclinic unit cell, with an inversion center in the middle of the La₂Cl₂ ring of the polymeric chain.