CPL-active molecules have the potential to be used as sensors and biological probes. To be a good fit, the molecule must be stable in water and have the highest dissymmetry factor (glum) and CPL brightness (BCPL) values possible. Here, we describe the synthesis of chiral enantiopure visible lanthanide complexes that are air- and water-stable, highly luminescent, and possess high glum and BCPL in water. To circumvent the problem of water coordination to the lanthanide center, which will inevitably quench lanthanide luminescence due to O-H vibrations, we designed a ligand which maximizes the lanthanide coordination and “protects” the lanthanide center from water molecules. The obtained lanthanide complexes gave CPL response to pH and some select heavy metals hence they have the potential to be employed as both CPL sensors for these heavy metals and CPL probes in biological systems.

Synthesis of bright water-soluble circularly polarized luminescence emitters as potential sensors

ACS Spring 2022

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