Self-Assembly of Triple-Stranded Lanthanide Molecular Quasi-Lantern Containing 2,2'-Bipyridine Receptor: Luminescence...

Ln₂L₃-type supramolecular architectures have received significant attention recently due to their unique magnetism and optical properties. Herein, we report the triple-stranded Ln₂L₃-type lanthanide molecular quasi-lanterns, which are fabricated by the deprotonation self-assembly of a linear ligand featuring a β-diketone chelating claw and 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) moiety with lanthanide ions (Ln = Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺). The crystal structure analysis indicates that Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺ ions are all coordinated by eight oxygen donors but in different coordination geometries. The eight oxygen donors in Eu₂L₃ and Dy₂L₃ are arranged in a square antiprism and triangular dodecahedron geometry, respectively. Taking into account the fact that the bpy moiety has a strong coordination affinity for transition metal ions, luminescence sensing toward Cu²⁺ ions has been demonstrated with Eu₂L₃, bearing a detection of limit as low as 2.84 ppb. The luminescence sensing behavior of Eu₂L₃ is ascribed to the formation host-guest complex between Eu₂L₃ and Cu²⁺ ions with a 1:2 binding ratio. Dynamic AC susceptibility measurements for Dy₂L₃ reveal the relaxation of magnetization in it. This work provides a potential way for design and fabrication of lanthanide-based molecular materials with functions endowed by the ligands.