Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Hyperspectral Imaging as a Tool to Study Optical Anisotropy in Lanthanide-Based Molecular Single Crystals
Published on: April 14, 2020
Intramolecular energy transfer in a one-dimensional europium tetracyanoplatinate
Branson A Maynard1, Katrina Kalachnikova, Kendra Whitehead
1Department of Chemistry, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688, USA.
Abstract:
The one-dimensional, polymeric compound (C15H11N3)Eu(H2O)2(NO3)(Pt(CN)4).CH3CN (1) has been shown to display an efficient donor-acceptor intramolecular energy-transfer (IET) process where ligand donors transfer energy to the Eu (III) acceptor. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction has been used to investigate the structural features of this compound in order to help understand the observed IET process. Crystallographic data: 1, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 12.835(1) A, b = 15.239(1) A, c = 13.751(2) A, beta = 105.594(9) degrees , V = 2590.8(5) A(3), and Z = 4 (T = 290 K).
Related Concept Videos
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Valence Bond Theory
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
The Molecular Nature of Internal Energy

