Lanthanide-isophthalate cavity frameworks encapsulated copper(I) complexes

The hydrothermal reactions of Ln2O3, [Cu(2,2′-bpy)2](ClO4) and isophthalic acid (H2ip) yielded a series of heterometallic coordination frameworks with the empirical formula [{Ln4(ip)7(H2O)2}{Cu(bpy)2}2]n [Ln=Nd (1), Sm (2), Eu (3)]. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that they are isostructural and possess a 3D cavity framework with two complex cations [Cu(2,2′-bpy)2]+ encapsulated in each cavity. TGA curve shows that they are highly thermally stable. Magnetic studies illustrate weakly antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between lanthanide(III) ions at room temperature in 1–3. Compound 2 has interesting photoluminescent property owing to the coexistence of host and guest photoluminescent units.