Previous research has been done to begin synthesizing various lanthanide metal complexes with amines. Inner-transition metal amine complexes exhibit unique properties and have potential for application in biological-mimic catalysis, photocatalysis, and photoluminescence. Here, three terbium amine complexes have been synthesized by the reaction of terbium(III) nitrate with 13daprop (1,3-diaminopropane), 15dapent (1,5-diaminopentane), and phen (1,10-phenanthroline) in methanol. The off-white product precipitates at -20°C overnight and is captured <i>via</i> filtration. The Tb(13daprop) and Tb(15dapent) solids are insoluble in all common solvents, but will form colloidal suspensions in water, while the Tb(phen) solid yields colloidal suspensions in all common solvents, including water. The complexes were characterized by FTIR. The colloidal mixtures strongly absorb ultraviolet radiation, but are completely transparent in the visible and near IR. The diamine complexes are weakly luminescent when under UV irradiation, while the phen adduct exhibits very strong visible luminescence. Interestingly, the phen adduct’s luminescence is reversibly quenched by the addition of water. The photophysics and some purification pathways of all three compounds are discussed.<br/>

Synthesis, characterization, and unusual solvation and luminescent properties of terbium amine complexes

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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