Two Beta-Phosphorylamide Compounds as Ligands for Sm(3+), Eu(3+), and Tb(3+): X-ray Crystallography and Luminescence Properties

This paper describes the synthesis of two beta-phosphorylamide ligands and their coordination chemistry with the Ln ions Tb(3+), Eu(3+), and Sm(3+). Both the ligands and Ln complexes were characterized by IR, NMR, MS, and X-ray crystallography. The luminescence properties of the Tb(3+) and Eu(3+) complexes were also characterized, including the acquisition of lifetime decay curves. In the solid state, the Tb(3+) and Sm(3+) ligand complexes were found to have a 2:2 stoichiometry when analyzed by X-ray diffraction. In these structures, the Ln ion was bound by both oxygen atoms of each beta-phosphorylamide moiety of the ligands. The Tb(3+) and Eu(3+) complexes were modestly emissive as solutions in acetonitrile, with lifetime values that fell within typical ranges.