Synthesis and luminescence of new water-soluble lanthanide complexes of DTTA-containing 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,2′-bipyridine

[Display omitted] •Water-soluble luminescent lanthanide (Eu3+ and Tb3+) complexes containing 4-aryl-2,2′- bipyridine chromophore and a DTTA chelate.•These complexes exhibited large quantum yields of lanthanide luminescence with almost no residual ligand fluorescence.•Terbium luminescence was observed for new complexes.•4-Aryl-2,2′-bipyridine chromophores are promising sensitizers of lanthanide luminescence. A new DTTA-appended 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,2′-bipyridine ligand has been synthesized for lanthanide cations by Kröhnke method. Its luminescent lanthanide (Eu3+ and Tb3+) water-soluble complexes have been synthesized. The photophysical properties of new chelates were studied. Comparison of the new complexes with the known ones has been done; in some cases a red-shift in absorption spectra and higher lanthanide emission quantum yields were observed.