Two mono- and dinuclear Eu(iii) enantiomeric pairs based on chiral bis-bidentate bridging ligands: synthesis, structures, luminescent and ferroelectric properties†
Abstract
Using the enantiomeric bis-bidentate bridging ligands (+)/(−)-2,5-bis(4,5-pinene-2-pyridyl)pyrazine (LS/LR) and depending on the ratio control of reactants, two mono- and dinuclear Eu(III)-based enantiomeric pairs with the formulae Eu(dbm)3LR/S·2H2O (LR in R-1, LS in S-1 and dbm = dibenzoylmethanato) and Eu2(dbm)6LR/S·H2O (LR in R-2 and LS in S-2) have been stereoselectively synthesized and structurally characterized. The circular dichroic (CD) spectra confirmed their chiroptical activities and enantiomeric natures. The homochiral dinuclear species represents the first example of a polynuclear lanthanide β-diketonate complexes with circular dichroic and crystallographic evidences. The photoluminescent properties studies revealed that both mono- and dinuclear Eu(III) complexes exhibited the characteristic red emissions of Eu(III) ions in the solid state (at 77 K and 300 K) and CH2Cl2 solution. Notably, the photophysical properties of the mononuclear enantiomers were superior to the dinuclear species. Interestingly, R-2 displayed a ferroelectric property at room temperature, which was not observed for R-1 due to the lack of crystalline polarity. R/S-2 are the first examples of homochiral polynuclear lanthanide complexes with luminescence and ferroelectric properties, being potential multifunctional materials.