Coordinative
networks containing lanthanide ions attached via phosphonate ester
functionalities provide remarkable luminescence properties. On the
basis of ditopic phosphonic ester ligands with biphenylene and 9,10-anthracenylene
bridges, a series of compounds with formal composition {[M(NO3)3]L}
n
or {[M(NO3)3]2(L1)3}
n
(L = C28H40O6P2; L1 = C26H40O6P2) with
M = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Y
have been synthesized, structurally characterized, and the luminescence
behavior was explored in the visible and NIR spectral regions, where
applicable. In contrast to closely related networks based on biphenyl
bisphosphonate esters from previous work, no evidence for ligand-to-metal
energy transfer could be observed, despite strong near-infrared emission
in some cases. Unique behavior is found for the Eu derivative with
the 9,10-anthracenylene bridge, which is nonemissive, showing neither
ligand- nor metal-based emission.