Enhanced luminescence for detection of small molecules based on doped lanthanide compounds with a dinuclear double-stranded helicate structure

A novel family of lanthanide materials with a dinuclear double-stranded helicate structure Ln 2 L 2 (DBM) 4 (OAc) 2 [Ln = Sm ( 1 ), Eu ( 2 ) Gd ( 3 ) and Yb ( 4 )] constructed from -diketonate (DBM = dibenzoylmethanide) and an auxiliary ligand Schiff base (H 2 L = N , N -bis(salicylidene)butane-1,6-diamine) was investigated. The structures of isostructural complexes 14 were determined by single-crystal and powder X-ray crystallography. The optical properties of these compounds could be enhanced by doping, allowing for doped materials with tunable visible and near-infrared emission. Subsequently, a multifunctional sensor was employed to detect CH 3 COOH, as well as the poisonous ions Al 3+ and Cr 2 O 7 2 . The notable quenching effect and luminescence-based color change showed that doped materials are promising fluorescence probes for the identification and detection of specific anions, cations and organic small molecules. A family of isostructural lanthanide compounds was explored and enhanced luminescence accomplished by doping. A novel and multifunctional fluorescence probe was developed, which was able to detect CH 3 COOH, Al 3+ and Cr 2 O 7 2 .