Synthesis and luminescence properties of two novel lanthanide (III) complexes of acetophenonylcarboxymethyl sulphoxide

ABSTRACTA novel ligand containing multiple coordinating groups (sulfinyl, carboxyl and carbonyl groups), acetophenonylcarboxymethyl sulphoxide, was synthesized. Its corresponding two lanthanide (III) binary complexes were synthesized and characterized by element analysis, molar conductivity, FT‐IR, TG‐DTA and UV spectroscopy. Results showed that the composition of these complexes was REL3L‐ (ClO4)2·3H2O (RE = Eu (III), Tb (III); L = C6H5COCH2SOCH2COOH; L‐ = C6H5COCH2SOCH2COO‐). FT‐IR results indicated that acetophenonylcarboxymethyl sulphoxide was bonded with an RE (III) ion by an oxygen atom of the sulfinyl and carboxyl groups and not by an oxygen atom of the carbonyl group due to high steric hinderance. Fluorescent spectra showed that the Tb (III) complex had excellent luminescence as a result of a transfer of energy from the ligand to the excitation state energy level (5D4) of Tb (III). The Eu (III) complex displayed weak luminescence, attributed to low energy transfer efficiency between the triplet state energy level of its ligand and the excited state (5D0) of Eu (III). As a result, the Tb (III) complex displayed a good antenna effect for luminescence. The fluorescence decay curves of Eu (III) and Tb (III) complexes were also measured. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.