Herein, the synthesis and characterization of the first family of multipodal ligands with a Tröger's base framework designed for the preparation of luminescent lanthanide(III) complexes are reported. Eight ligands were designed and synthesized using different strategies, including alkylation reactions, amide couplings, and Ugi multicomponent reactions. All the ligands bear carboxylate groups for the coordination of the lanthanide(III) ions, with the lanthanide(III)-sensitizing units consisting of the Tröger's base framework itself or attached benzamides. Upon irradiation of the chromophoric ligands, green terbium(III) emission was efficiently generated, whereas europium(III) emission was negligible. The geometry and substitution pattern of the ligands allow control of the stoichiometry of the species formed and the TbIII luminescence sensitization efficiency, showing that para-substitution patterns are more efficient than meta substitution for the formation of coordination compounds with lower TbIII /ligand ratio. We propose that the species formed are self-assembled 2:2 or 2:4 metallosupramolecular structures.
Keywords: lanthanides; ligand design; luminescence; multicomponent reactions; multipodal ligands.
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