Synthesis and luminescence of Eu(III) complexes with macrocyclic azacrown ethers and 1,10-phenanthroline

Complexes of Eu(III) with mixed macrocyclic azacrown ethers and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) were synthesized and their luminescence properties measured. The specific azacrown ethers used were 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,4,8,11-tetraacetate (TETA) and 1,4,8,12-tetraazacyclopentadecane ([15]aneN4). The phen-coordinated complexes excited by UV light produced a very bright red emission via an intra-molecular energy transfer from phen to Eu(III). For [Eu(TETA)·(phen)·(H2O)]− and [Eu([15]aneN4)·(phen)2]3+, the quantum yields of sensitized luminescence were 8.4% and 7.8%, respectively, and were much greater than those from non-sensitized luminescence of 1.2% and 4.4%, respectively. The decay times of the corresponding phen-coordinated complexes, as measured at room temperature, were 1.6 and 0.6 ms, respectively, and were much longer than those of the phen-uncoordinated complexes of 0.3 and 0.2 ms, respectively.