Chiral discrimination in circularly polarized luminescence of Tb(III)–Nd(III) complexes of (S)- and (R)-1,4,7,10 tetraazacyclododecane derivatives

Luminescence, circularly polarized luminescence, luminescence dissymmetry factor g and lifetimes of Tb-(R)- and Tb-(S)-complexes of a tetraamide derivative of 1,4,7,10 tetraazacyclododecane (cyclene) were investigated as a function of concentration in various solvents to clarify the cross-relaxation processes and the excited-states chiroptical structures of the macrocyclic complexes. Luminescence quenching of Tb-(R)-complexes in the presence of Nd-(R)- and Nd-(S)-complexes is analyzed by Stern–Volmer quenching mechanism and their difference is interpreted by the fact that chiral recognition favors to a more stable homo pair rather than a hetero pair. Fine structures in luminescence at 10 K are further discussed on the complex doped in silicon grease in terms of crystal field splittings.