The new homodinuclear complexes of the general formula [Ln2L3(NO3)3] (where HL is newly synthesized 2-((2-(benzoxazol-2-yl)-2-methylhydrazono)methyl)phenol and Ln = Sm3+ (1), Eu3+ (2), Tb3+ (3a, 3b), Dy3+ (4), Ho3+ (5), Er3+ (6), Tm3+ (7), Yb3+ (8)), have been synthesized from the lanthanide(III) nitrates with the polydentate hydrazone Schiff base ligand. The flexibility of this unsymmetrical Schiff base ligand containing N2O binding moiety, attractive for lanthanide metal ions, allowed for a self-assembly of these complexes. The compounds were characterized by spectroscopic data (ESI-MS, IR, UV/Vis, luminescence) and by the X-ray structure determination of the single crystals, all of which appeared to be different solvents. The analytical data suggested 2:3 metal:ligand stoichiometry in these complexes, and this was further confirmed by the structural results. The metal cations are nine-coordinated, by nitrogen and oxygen donor atoms. The complexes are two-centered, with three oxygen atoms in bridging positions. There are two types of structures, differing by the sources of terminal (non-bridging) coordination centers (group A: two ligands, one nitro anion/one ligand, two nitro anions, group B: three ligands, three anions).
Keywords: Schiff base complexes; X-ray structures; lanthanides; luminescence studies; spectroscopy.