Luminescent lanthanide complexes with liquid crystalline properties

Abstract

Lewis-base adducts of tris (beta-diketonato) lanthanide(III) complexes were prepared, where the beta-diketone is para-alkoxy-substituted 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedione. These compounds are the first examples of liquid crystalline lanthanide complexes in which the mesomorphism is introduced via a beta-diketonate ligand. Depending on the type of the Lewis base, the metallomesogens exhibit a monotropic smectic A or a monotropic highly ordered smectic phase. Intense photoluminescence was observed for the europium(III) complexes at room temperature.