Synthesis, crystal structure and photoluminescent properties of four lanthanide 5-nitroisophthalate coordination polymers

Four new lanthanide coordination polymers, [Y(Hnip)(nip)(H2O)]·H2O (1), [Ln(Hnip)(nip)(H2O)2]·2H2O [Ln=Eu(2), Tb(3)] and [Y(nip)2]·(H24,4′-bpy)0.5 (4) [5-nip=5-nitroisophthalate, 4,4′-bpy=4,4′-bipyridine], have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 features novel lanthanide–carboxylate groups chains composed of three samehanded helical strands intersecting each other through hinged lanthanide atoms, and these chains are cross-linked by phenylene moieties of carboxylate ligands into a 2D layer structure. Compounds 2 and 3 are isomorphous, and contain 1D catenanelike Ln–O–C–O–Ln chains, which are interconnected by phenylene moieties into 2D layer structures. Compound 4, however, displays a 3D architecture sustained by strong hydrogen bonding interactions between the protonated 4,4′-bpy and the carboxyl oxygen atom from [Y2(nip)4]2− with 2D layer structure, and 4,4′-bpy as the guest molecules exist in bilayer channel. The studies for the thermal stabilities of the four compounds show that compound 4 is more stable than other compounds. Compound 2 emits characteristic red luminescence of Eu3+ ions at room temperature, and its luminescent lifetime and quantum efficiency has been determined.