Assembly, crystal structure, and luminescent properties of three-dimensional (10,3)-a netted rare earth coordination polymers

Solid complexes [REL(NO3)3]n with novel (10,3)-a type three-dimensional networks structure have been assembled using rare earth nitrates and an amide type semirigid tripodal bridging ligand, 1,3,5-tris {[(2′-benzylaminoformyl)phenoxyl]methyl}benzene (L), as building blocks. The complexes were crystallized in the orthorhombic system with chiral space group P212121. The whole structure consists of an infinite array of trigonal RE(III) ions bridged by tridentate ligands, and a novel (10,3)-a net is formed, which is very uncommon in the rare earth complexes. At room temperature, the Sm(III), Eu(III), Tb(III), Dy(III) complexes all exhibited characteristic luminescence emissions of central metal ions under UV light excitation.