Eu(III) complexation of phenyltrisalanine and phenylbisalanine in aqueous solution studied by photoluminescence and UV spectroscopy

The Eu(III)-coordination of phenyltrisalanine (Pta) 1, in aqueous solution was investigated. The photoluminescence data suggested that the chelating effect of Pta places the metal ion on the face of the aromatic ring as proposed in 4. Furthermore, Eu(III) is usually used as a substitute for Ca(II) in spectroscopic studies and the formation of a 1:1 complex between Pta and Eu(III) indicated the possibility that Pta may be used as a Ca(II) binder. For comparison, phenylbisalanine (Pba) 2, was subjected to similar studies and was found to behave more like phenylalanine.