Mono- and heterometallic europium (III) and terbium (III) complexes: Synthesis, crystal structures and luminescent properties

•Four Eu (III) and Tb (III) organometallic coordination polymers were synthesized.•Addition of Ag (I) leads to massive restructuring and emission enhancement of 3–4.•The luminescent property of 1–4 was investigated in solid state.

Four new rare earth organometallic coordination polymers [EuIII(Hbidc)(pdc)·2(H2O)]2·4H2O (1), [TbIII(Hbidc)(pdc)·2(H2O)]2 (2), and {[LnIIIAgI(bidc)(pdc)·2(H2O)]}n·H2O (Ln = Eu (3), Tb (4)) (H2bidc = 1H-benzimidazole-5,6-dicarboxylic acid, H2pdc = 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid) have been synthesized through self-assembly reactions. The X-ray single crystal diffraction indicates that these complexes are isomorphous, namely triclinic P − 1. Interlayer O–H⋯O and C–H⋯O hydrogen bonding has been observed in the structure of four complexes, generating 1D zigzag infinite chain, 2D plane layer, and even 3D ladder-like supramolecular framework. Addition of silver nitrate to chemicals leads to massive restructuring and emission intensity enhancement of complexes 3 and 4. Furthermore, thermal stabilities and luminescent of 1–4 have also been discussed in detail.

Graphical abstractAddition of silver nitrate to chemicals in 1 and 2 leads to massive restructuring and emission intensity enhancement of complexes 3 and 4.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide