Luminescence as a tool to study lanthanide-catalyzed formation of carbon–carbon bonds

• Spectroscopic properties of tripositive lanthanides are reviewed.
• Use of luminescence measurements to study water-coordination number is reviewed.
• Use of luminescence to study lanthanide-catalyzed organic reactions is reviewed.

Lanthanide ions have been widely studied in imaging and sensing applications, and they are also strong Lewis acids that have the ability to catalyze organic reactions. Here, we review the spectroscopic properties of lanthanides that enable the calculation of water-coordination numbers. Additionally, the application of these calculations to study the mechanism of lanthanide-catalyzed organic reactions is reviewed.

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