Thiacalix[4]arene-Supported Kite-Like Heterometallic Tetranuclear ZnIILnIII3 (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho) Complexes

Thiacalix[4]arene-Sandwiched Sandglass-like Ln9 Clusters (Ln = Tb and Eu): Insights into the Selective Luminescence Quenching Properties by p-Nitrobenzene Derivatives

Nonanuclear lanthanide clusters Ln₉ (Ln = Tb and Eu) based on p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene (H₄TC4A) have been synthesized by the solvothermal reaction and were structurally determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The framework of Ln₉ can be termed as a sandglass-like structure whose two Ln₄-TC4A polynuclear secondary building units are bridged by one octa-coordinate {Ln(μ₃-O)₈} unit. Efficient TC4A-to-Ln energy transfer was observed for Tb₉ but not for Eu₉. The luminescence quantum yield (QY) of Tb₉ in the solid state at room temperature was determined to be 17.6%, while its highest QY in a methanolic solution (2 × 10^-5 mol/L) is 59.2% upon excitation at 318 nm. The luminescence of Tb₉ was quenched selectively by derivatives of p-nitrobenzene, as demonstrated by the results of photoluminescence and UV-vis titration experiments and supported by density functional theory calculations. We believe that the interactions between the analyte molecules and the pocket of Tb₉ are primarily responsible for the observed quenching. As such, this work represents one of the few examples of utilizing structurally interesting lanthanide cluster complexes as a sensory platform for the recognition of meaningful analytes and portends the further development of lanthanide-calixarene-complex-based functional materials.

Achieving stable photoluminescence by double thiacalix[4]arene-capping: the lanthanide-oxo cluster core matters

Luminescence stability is a critical consideration for applying phosphors in practical devices. In this work, we report two categories of double p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene (H₄TC4A) capped clusters that exhibit characteristic lanthanide luminescence. Specifically, {[Ln₄(μ₄-OH)(TC4A)₂(DMF)₆(CH₃OH)₃(HCOO)Cl₂]}·xCH₃OH (Ln = Eu (1), Tb (2); x = 0–1) with square-planar [Ln₄(μ₄-OH)] cluster cores and {[Ln₉(μ₅-OH)₂(μ₃-OH)₈(OCH₃) (TC4A)₂ (H₂O)₂₄Cl₉]}·xDMF (Ln = Gd (3), Tb (4), Dy (5); x = 2–6) with hourglass-like [Ln₉(μ₅-OH)₂(μ₃-OH)₈] cluster cores are synthesized and characterized. By comparing 2 and 4, we find that several critical luminescence properties (such as quantum efficiency and luminescence stabilities) depend directly on the cluster core structure. With the square-planar [Ln₄(μ₄-OH)] cluster cores, 2 demonstrates high quantum yield (∼65%) and excellent luminescence stability against moisture, high temperature, and UV-radiation. A white light-emitting diode (LED) with ultrahigh color quality is successfully fabricated by mixing 2 with commercial phosphors. These results imply that high quality phosphors might be achieved by exploiting the double thiacalix[4]arene-capping strategy, with an emphasis on the cluster core structure.

{Ln₄} cores outperform {Ln₉} cores in achieving stable photoluminescence from double thiacalix[4]arene-capped lanthanide-oxo clusters.

Tuning the coordination behavior of an unexplored asymmetric multidentate ligand for developing diverse heterometallic architectures with luminescent and magnetic properties

Three types of heterometallic species including metal clusters and a metal macrocycle have been developed by tuning the coordination behavior of a new asymmetric ligand with metal cations and anions.

A simple synthetic approach to enhance the thermal luminescence sensitivity of Tb3+ complexes with thiacalix[4]arene derivatives through upper-rim bromination

The present work for the first time reports an application of the thiacalix[4]arene scaffold for the preparation of Tb3+ complexes possessing high thermal luminescence sensitivity in the physiological temperature range of 20-50 °C. Non-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes form luminescent complexes with Tb3+ ions, but they do not reveal any meaningful thermal sensitivity. To solve this problem, an upper-rim bromination of thiacalix[4]arenes, as well as distal bromination along with the embedding of two 1,3-diketone substituents are proposed as new simple synthetic approaches to enhance the thermal luminescence sensitivity of the Tb3+ complexes. A combination of mass spectrometry, NMR, UV-Vis and luminescence spectroscopy with quantum chemical calculations reveals a dimeric structure of the complexes formed by thiacalix[4]arenes with Tb3+ ions in DMF solutions. The steady-state luminescence of the Tb3+ complexes has demonstrated more than one order higher thermal sensitivity for the complexes of bromo-substituted ligands in comparison with the non-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes. The reasons for such behavior are discussed. The results highlight new opportunities for the thiacalix[4]arene platform for controlling ligand-to-metal energy transfer in terbium complexes and tuning their thermo-responsive luminescence properties.

Thiacalix[4]arene-supported mononuclear lanthanide compounds: slow magnetic relaxation in dysprosium and erbium analogues

Four mononuclear Ln^III compounds have been synthesized, and the dysprosium and erbium analogues exhibit typical field-induced SMM behavior.

Three sandwich-type zinc(ii)–lanthanide(iii) clusters: structures, luminescence and magnetic properties

We present herein three sandwich-type luminescent Zn^II–Ln^III clusters with Zn^II–Dy^III being SMMs with a slow zero-field relaxation.

Thiacalix[4]arene-supported heterodinuclear NiII–LnIII complexes: slow magnetic relaxation behavior in the dysprosium analogue

Three thiacalix[4]arene-supported ferromagnetic Ni^II–Ln^III complexes have been isolated. The dysprosium analogue exhibits field-induced SMM behavior and diamagnetic dilution can efficiently influence the dipole–dipole interaction between magnetic centers.

Syntheses, structures, luminescence and magnetic properties of three high-nuclearity neodymium compounds based on mixed sulfonylcalix[4]arene-phosphonate ligands

The solvothermal reactions of p-tert-butylsulfonylcalix[4]arene (H₄BSC4A), phosphonic acid and neodymium chloride have resulted in three novel high-nuclearity neodymium coordination compounds.

Optical detection of small biomolecule thiamines at a micromolar level by highly luminescent lanthanide complexes with tridentate N-heterocyclic ligands

Based on the luminescence properties of lanthanide complexes, we found that very fast and extremely sensitive optical detection of thiamines can be achieved for the first time.

Pentanuclear lanthanide pyramids based on thiacalix[4]arene ligand exhibiting slow magnetic relaxation

A series of pentanuclear Ln(III) clusters, [Ln5(μ4-OH)(μ3-OH)4(L1)(acac)6] (H4L1 = p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene; acac = acetylacetonate; Ln = Dy, Ho, Er) and [Ln5(μ5-OH)(μ3-OH)4(L1)(L2)2(acac)2(CH3OH)2] (H3L2 = 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-25,26,27-trihydroxy-28-methoxy thiacalix[4]arene; Ln = Dy, Ho, Er), have been synthesized based on the thiacalix[4]arene ligand. All of these complexes feature a square-based pyramid with four triangular Ln3 structural motifs. One μ4-OH group bridges four Ln(III) ions in the basal plane of , while the OH group in complexes adopts the μ5-coordination mode. Our results illuminate the coordination modes of the versatile thiacalix[4]arene ligands and their application to new cluster compounds. The structural and magnetic studies confirm that the molecular symmetries and coordination geometries for lanthanide metal cores have a significant effect on some parameters as single-molecule magnets. Among them, two Dy5 pyramids exhibit distinct slow magnetic relaxation.

Discrete polynuclear manganese(ii) complexes with thiacalixarene ligands: synthesis, structures and photophysical properties

The solid state luminescence of [Mn₄(ThiaSO₂)₂F]X (X = K⁺ and [K(18-crown-6)]⁺, ThiaSO₂ = p-tert-butylsulphonylcalix[4]arene) compounds show a strong O₂ pressure dependence.

Self-assembly of two high-nuclearity manganese calixarene-phosphonate clusters: diamond-like Mn16 and drum-like Mn14

Variation of the phosphonic acid “converts” a tetradecanuclear drum-like MnII14 cluster (1) into a hexadecanuclear diamond-like MnII16 cluster (2).