Although the photophysical properties of lanthanide complexes have been widely exploited in various biotechnology and materials science applications, the development of luminescent metallopolymers  has been relatively limited. The unique photophysical properties of the lanthanide ions result from shielding of the f-orbitals by the 5s2 and 5p6 shells causing narrow line-like emissions of optically pure colors and long radiative lifetimes. Unfortunately, direct excitation of these f-f transitions displaying emission in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) regions of the spectrum are spin- and parity-forbidden, which necessitates the use of organic antenna chromophore molecules to indirectly excite the metal center through energy transfer processes. Antenna ligands for lanthanide emission are typically effective at sensitizing emission from either visible or near-IR emitting Ln(III) ions depending on the position of the ligand triplet excited state energy level relative to the emissive excited state of the Ln metal ion. In the present work, highly conjugated ligands were produced by appending polymerizable groups such as 3,4-(ethylenedioxy)thienyl (EDOT) or bithiophene (BT) onto ligands with suitable binding pockets for lanthanide ions. In this way, electropolymerizable antenna ligands (L) were synthesized, exhibiting triplet excited state energy levels appropriate for possible lanthanide sensitization. A series of (�-diketonate)3LLn(III) complexes were produced to probe the potential of the ligands to sensitize Ln(III) emission. The metal complex monomers were readily electropolymerized producing luminescent lanthanide-containing conducting metallopolymers. Some of our latest results pertaining to the design, synthesis, characterization, and study of luminescent lanthanide complexes and the corresponding conducting metallopolymers will be discussed.

Luminescent conducting metallopolymers

248th National Meeting (2014)

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