Synthesis, characterization and fluorescence properties of novel pyridine dicarboxylic acid derivatives and corresponding Tb(III) complexes

Two novel ligands containing two pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid conjugative units, 4-(2-(2,6-dicarbox-ypyridin-4-yl)vinyl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (L1) and 4-(4-(2-(2,6-dicarboxypyridin-4-yl)vinyl)styryl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (L2) and their complexes with Tb(III) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra and NMR. The ligand synthetic route was optimized and the yield of ligands reached over 78% as a result of the Wittig–Horner reaction used. The fluorescent intensities of these complexes with corresponding complexes with single pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid unit was compared. The result has shown that the ligands with two pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid units are the excellent sensitizers to lanthanide fluorescence. Also, we investigated the fluorescence properties of these complexes in different solution and in different pH value. Due to their excellent green-emmiter, they would be a potential candidate material for applications in organic light-emitting devices and medical diagnosis.