Siderophore inspired tetra- and octadentate antenna ligands for luminescent Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes

Three antenna ligands bearing 1,2-hydroxypyridonate (HOPO) and 2-hydroxisophthalamide (IAM) chromophores are reported. Photophysical characterization of the Gd(III), Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes revealed localized triplet states for the chromophores and that they need to reside on a primary amine of the spermine backbone to be efficient in lanthanide excitation.201