SYNTHESIS AND LUMINESCENCE PROPERTIES OF EUROPIUM(III) AND TERBIUM(III) COMPLEXES WITH POLYACID CHELATES DERIVED FROM 2,6-BIS(N-PYRAZOLYL)PYRIDINE

A short and efficient synthesis of -aminomethyl-1-pyrazolyl)pyridine]- tetrakis(acetic acid) (6), an analogue of terpyridine with additional chelating iminodiacetic groups, is described. Compound 6 forms stable complexes with Eu(III) and Tb(III) in water whose relative luminescenc e yields, excitation maxima and emission decay lifetimes have been mea sured. The number of water molecules in the first coordination sphere of the europium complex have also been determined. Comparison of data from the Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes of 6 and of the parent trishete rocycle diacid 2,6-bis(3-carboxy- 1 -pyrazolyl) pyridine shows that th e iminodiacetic subunits give extra stabilization to the complexes and are essential to protect the metal from the water environment.