Near-infrared luminescence and RNA cleavage ability of lanthanide Schiff base complexes derived from N,N′-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)ethylene-1,2-diamine ligands

Lanthanide Schiff base complexes were prepared containing the N,N′-bis-(3-methoxysalicylidene)ethylene-1,2-diamine ligand, yielding three unique structures of La3 + and Pr3 + complexes. The complexes were able to hydrolyze RNA oligonucleotides, in a non-sequence specific manner. The Nd3 +, Er3 + and Yb3 + complexes represent rare examples, showing strong emission in the near infrared region.279