Application and Luminescent Properties of the Complexes of Lanthanide Ions Based on Calixarene Derivatives

Calixarenes, the macrocyclic compounds derived from the condensation of p-substituted phenol and formaldehyde, represent a new type of receptor after cyclodextrins and crown ethers due to their structure peculiarity and the feasibility to modify. Now calixarenes become the hot topic in supramolecular chemistry research. The complexes of calixarene derivatives and lanthanide ions demonstrate particular luminescent properties because of the energy transfer between the derivatives and metal ions. So lanthanide ion complexes based on calixarene derivatives have attracted considerable attentions. This paper reviewed the research progress on luminescent properties of lanthanide ion complexes based on calixarene derivatives and their applications in fluorescent sensors, molecular switches and luminescent materials.