Synthesis, structure and near-infrared luminescence of neutral 3d–4f bi-metallic monoporphyrinate complexes

Abstract

The interaction of cationic lanthanide complexes [Ln(porp)(H₂O)₃]⁺ (Ln = Er or Yb; porp = porphyrinate) with sodium (cyclopentadienyl)tris(diethylphosphito)cobaltate (NaL_OEt) gives the neutral 3d–4f bi-metallic porphyrinate complexes, [(L_OEt)Ln(porp)]. X-Ray structural analyses reveal that these complexes are seven-coordinate with the three oxygen atoms of the O₃-tripodal ligand, L_OEt, coordinated to the lanthanide metal behaving as a 6-electron donor. Photophysical measurements show that the porphyrinate ligand behaves as a sensitizer by absorbing visible light to excite the Ln(III) metal ions, producing near-infrared emission.