Luminescence of Ytterbium and Neodymium in Complexes with Bis-Macrocyclic Ligands

We have studied the spectral-luminescent characteristics of ytterbium and neodymium ions in complexes with new polydentate bis-crown-ether and bis-azacyclic ligands both of whose parts are bound by 2,9-substituted 1,10-phenanthroline. The relationship between the intensity, rare-earth ion luminescence lifetime, and the composition of the coordination sphere of the complexes is established. Using the considered compounds as an example, we show the advantage of the joint influence of screening of the central ion from the effect of high-frequency O–H- and C–H vibrations of the solvent molecules and of the “photoantenna” effect in improvement of the luminescent characteristics of lanthanides.