Ln2L3-type supramolecular architectures have received significant attention recently due to their unique magnetism and optical properties. Herein, we report the triple-stranded Ln2L3-type lanthanide molecular quasi-lanterns, which are fabricated by the deprotonation self-assembly of a linear ligand featuring a β-diketone chelating claw and 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) moiety with lanthanide ions (Ln = Eu3+ and Dy3+). The crystal structure analysis indicates that Eu3+ and Dy3+ ions are all coordinated by eight oxygen donors but in different coordination geometries. The eight oxygen donors in Eu2L3 and Dy2L3 are arranged in a square antiprism and triangular dodecahedron geometry, respectively. Taking into account the fact that the bpy moiety has a strong coordination affinity for transition metal ions, luminescence sensing toward Cu2+ ions has been demonstrated with Eu2L3, bearing a detection of limit as low as 2.84 ppb. The luminescence sensing behavior of Eu2L3 is ascribed to the formation host-guest complex between Eu2L3 and Cu2+ ions with a 1:2 binding ratio. Dynamic AC susceptibility measurements for Dy2L3 reveal the relaxation of magnetization in it. This work provides a potential way for design and fabrication of lanthanide-based molecular materials with functions endowed by the ligands.
© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.