Spectrochemical Properties of Lanthanide Coordination and Supramolecular Compounds

The work of the research group during the last 20 years in the field of lanthanide solvation, interaction with anions and neutral molecules, macrocyclic and supramolecular chemistry, and luminescent probes is briefly reviewed

Lanthanide Metal Ions as Cornerstones in Functional Self-Assembled Supramolecular Complexes

The peculiar spectroscopic, magnetic, and chemical properties of lanthanide ions (4f block, LnIII) are particularly attractive for the design of functional supramolecular devices if these ions can be selectively introduced into organized self-assembled architectures. The systematic investigation of a complete library of tridentate receptors leading to nine-coordinate tricapped trigonal prismatic sites upon coordination to LnIII allows the elucidation of the factors governing the structural, thermodynamic, electronic, magnetic, and spectroscopic properties of the final complexes. The simultaneous use of LnIII as cement between the molecular components of the supramolecular edifices and as functional vectors of the devices has been realized in self-assembled poly nuclear d-f and f-f complexes. Predetermined properties may result from a judicious molecular programming of the nanometric architecture leading to fascinating applications in luminescence, magnetism, template syntheses, and liquid crystals

Sensing a Bacillis anthracis biomarker with well-known OLED emitter EuTta3Phen

Dipicolinic acid (DPA) is a distinctive biomarker for bacterial spores. Here, we present the successful demonstration of dramatic Switch-OFF sensing of DPA using an easily synthesised Eu(III) phosphor applied primarily in light-emitting devices. The sensor in the presence of water and phosphate is also demonstrated to be effective

Use of lanthanide-containing polyoxometalates to sensitise the emission of fluorescent labelled serum albumin

Monitoring the interaction of biomolecules is important, and the use of energy transfer is a principal technique in elucidating nanoscale interactions. Lanthanide compounds are promising luminescent probes for biological samples as their emission is longer-lived than any native autofluorescence. Polyoxometalates (POMs) are interesting structural motifs to incorporate lanthanides, offering low toxicity and a size pertinent for biological applications. Here, we employ iso-structured POMs containing either terbium or europium and assess their interaction with serum albumin by sensitisation of a fluorescent tag on the protein via LRET (luminescence resonance energy transfer) by exciting the lanthanide. Time-resolved measurements showed energy transfer with an efficiency of over 90 % for the POM–protein systems. The Tb–POM results were relatively straightforward, while those with the iso-structured Eu–POM were complicated by the effect of protein shielding from the aqueous environment