A series of bis(acyl)phosphide-supported Eu complexes
were synthesized
(bis(acyl)phosphide = BAP). In this study, BAP ligands proved to be
excellent ligands for the synthesis of both Eu3+ and Eu2+ molecular complexes. Sodium bis(mesitoyl)phosphide (Na(
mes
BAP)) and sodium
bis(2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoyl)phosphide (Na(
tripp
BAP)) were employed as ligand precursors
for the synthesis of the Eu3+ complexes Eu(bis(mesitoyl)phosphide)3(thf)2 (Eu(
mes
BAP)
3
(thf)
2
) and Eu(bis(2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoyl)phosphide)3 (Eu(
tripp
BAP)
3
), as well as the Eu2+ complex,
Eu(bis(2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoyl)phosphide)2(dme)2 (Eu(
tripp
BAP)
2
(dme)
2
)
(thf = tetrahydrofuran, dme = 1,2-dimethoxyethane). All complexes
were characterized using a combination of UV–vis–NIR–IR
and NMR spectroscopies, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD).
The magnetic properties of these three monomeric Eu complexes were
investigated by variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility. The
magnetic data are typical for these ions, with Eu(
tripp
BAP)
2
(dme)
2
displaying Curie-type
behavior. Both Eu(
tripp
BAP)
3
and Eu(
mes
BAP)
3
(thf)
2
possess similar 7F0-7F1 spin–orbit energy gaps and a similar
zero-field splitting of the 7F1 state.