Synthesis, structure and luminescence properties of lanthanide coordination polymers using in situ decarboxylation of a H3cppdc ligand

•Ten LCPs were prepared via in situ decarboxylation from H3cppdc Ligand.•The anionic charge is balanced by dimethylammonium cation in complexes 1-10.•Complexes 4, 5, 7 and 8 exhibit the characteristic lanthanide luminescence.

The hydrothermal reaction of Ln(NO3)3·6H2O, 3-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (H3cppdc) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) gave a series of lanthanide coordination polymers n[NH2(CH3)2]·[Ln(cppc)2(H2O)2]n (where: Ln = Ce (1), Pr (2), Nd (3), Sm (4), Eu (5), Gd (6), Tb (7), Dy (8), Ho (9) and Er (10); and H2cppc = 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid). The H2cppc ligand was formed in situ via decarboxylation of the initial H3cppdc ligand under the hydrothermal reaction conditions. Complexes 1–10 that crystallized in the same C2/c space group, exhibited similar 2D layered structures and assemble into 3D supramolecular networks via hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interactions. In addition, the luminescence properties of complexes 4, 5, 7 and 8 were investigated.

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