Design of luminescent lanthanide-organic supramolecular assemblies

Abstract

Research on metal-organic supramolecular assemblies is extensive, while lanthanide-based supramolecular assemblies is still the minority among numerous transition metal-based supramolecular assemblies. This thesis covers the background information of the research target “Design of Luminescent Lanthanide Supramolecular Assemblies” and the results on this project. In Chapter 1, the features of the lanthanide series and lanthanide complex will briefly be mentioned. In addition, lanthanide luminescence will be discussed in depth including the advantage of utilising Ln-based complex as luminescent materials, the basic theory on the intrinsic properties of lanthanide luminescence and important parameters on qualifying luminescent materials. At the end of this section, the important background knowledge on supramolecular chemistry, general strategies on constructing metal-organic and luminescent lanthanide-organic supramolecular assemblies will be discussed. After reading this section, the reader should have basic comprehension on designing self-assembled luminescent lanthanide supramolecular assemblies. In Chapter 2, the results of four tris(β-diketonate) ligands L(1-4)-p will be included such as the methodology on synthesis and characterisation. Also, all ligands are targeted to complex with europium, terbium, samarium, lanthanum, lutetium and gadolinium and major discussion will be put on the photophysical measurements, NMR and HRMS spectroscopy. In Chapter 3, the methodology on synthesis and characterisation of four tris(β-diketonate) ligands L(1-4)-m will be included. L1-m and L2-m are complexed with europium, terbium, samarium, lanthanum, lutetium and gadolinium with discussion on the photophysical measurements, NMR and HRMS spectroscopy. All experimental details will also be mentioned in Chapter 4 of this section and all spectra will be put on the Chapter 6 as Appendices.