Hydrothermal syntheses and crystal structures of four novel lanthanide(III) complexes based on two mixed N,O-donor ligands

•Four lanthanide (III) complexes have been hydrothermally synthesized.•Two N,O-donors HNCP and 2,5-H2pydc were used as the mixed ligands.•TGA and PL properties of complexes 1–4 have been investigated.

Four novel polymeric lanthanide(III) complexes [Pr(NCP)(2,5-pydc)]n·1.5nH2O (1), [La(NCP)(2,5-pydc)]n (2), [Nd(NCP)(2,5-pydc)]n (3) and [Sm(NCP)(2,5-pydc)]n (4) (HNCP = 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)imidazo(4,5-f)(1,10)phenanthroline, 2,5-H2pydc = pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid) have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized via elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural analyses revealed that all of these four complexes possess similar two-dimensional sheet structures, which are further linked by the hydrogen bonds to furnish three-dimensional supramolecular structures. Meanwhile, the thermogravimetric analysis and photoluminescent property of complexes 1–4 have also been investigated.

Graphical abstractA series of lanthanide (III) coordination polymers with intriguing structures based on 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)imidazo(4,5-f)(1,10)phenanthroline and pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid ligands have been hydrothermally synthesized. The thermal stabilities and photoluminescence properties of these complexes have been investigated.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide