Syntheses, structures and luminescence of Europium α-thiophene carboxylates coordination polymer and supramolecular compound

Two europium α-thiophene carboxylic acid (HTPA) compounds, coordination polymer Eu(TPA)3(HTPA)2 (1) (TPA=α-thiophene carboxylate) and supramolecular compound Eu(TPA)3(H2O)3 · 0.5H2O (2) with luminescence and triboluminescence, have been synthesized and structurally characterized. In 1 each europium is bridged by six oxygen atoms from six carboxylates and coordinated with two carboxyl oxygen atoms from two α-thiophene carboxylic acid molecules, resulting in a coordination number of eight to Eu. For 2 each europium is chelated by six oxygen atoms from six carboxylates and coordinated with three oxygen atoms from three coordinated water generating a coordination number nine to Eu; A supramolecular compound is constructed through hydrogen bonds. Both 1 and 2 display strong characteristic emission of Eu3+ ion radiated by UV light and produce twinkling red light with an external force.