Hetero-bimetallic 2D coordination network constructed by azacrown ether carboxylic acid with lanthanide(III) and sodium ions

Two lanthanide-based coordination polymers Na₃La(L)Cl·(H₂O)₆]·NO₃ (La-L) and Na₃Eu(L)Cl·(H₂O)₆]·NO₃ (Eu-L) were newly synthesized by reaction of an azacrown ether carboxylic acid ligand H₄L (4,7,13,16-tetracarboxymethyl-1,10-dioxa-4,7,13,16-tetraazacyclooctadecane) with La(III)/Eu(III). Complexes La-L and Eu-L exhibited two-dimensional (2D) coordination architectures built up by Ln–L coordinating subunits and one-dimensional (1D) Na–O bridging chains. Four versatile coordination modes of carboxyl groups and Na–O coordination bi-chains linked by novel μ-O bridges (μ2-O and μ3-O) were demonstrated in the structure. Photoluminescence spectra of Eu-L were investigated to reveal characteristic emissions of Eu(III). This is the first example of hetero-bimetallic complex of the tetraazacrown ether ligand with lanthanide and sodium ions.