Jeffrey D. Einkauf

A General Model of Sensitized Luminescence in Lanthanide-Based Coordination Polymers and Metal–Organic Framework Materials

Luminescent lanthanides containing coordination polymers and metal-organic frameworks hold great potential in many applications due to their distinctive spectroscopic properties. While the ability to design coordination polymers for specific functions is often mentioned as a major benefit bestowed on these compounds, the lack of a meaningful understanding of the luminescence in lanthanide coordination polymers remains a significant challenge toward functional design. Currently, the study of these compounds is based on the antenna effect as derived from molecular systems, where organic antennae are used to facilitate lanthanide-centered luminescence. This molecular-based approach does not take into account the unique features of extended network solids, particularly the formation of band structure. While guidelines for the antenna effect are well established, they require modification before being applied to coordination polymers. A series of nine coordination polymers with varying topologies and organic linkers were studied to investigate the accuracy of the antenna effect in coordination polymer systems. By comparing a molecular-based approach to a band-based one, it was determined that the band structure that occurs in aggregated organic solids needs to be considered when evaluating the luminescence of lanthanide coordination polymers.

Rethinking Sensitized Luminescence in Lanthanide Coordination Polymers and MOFs: Band Sensitization and Water Enhanced Eu Luminescence in [Ln(C15H9O5)3(H2O)3]n (Ln = Eu, Tb)

A coordination polymer [Ln(C15H9O9)3(H2O)3]n (1-Ln = Eu(III), Tb(III)) assembled from benzophenonedicarboxylate was synthesized and characterized. The organic component is shown to sensitize lanthanide-based emission in both compounds, with quantum yields of 36% (Eu) and 6% (Tb). Luminescence of lanthanide coordination polymers is currently described from a molecular approach. This methodology fails to explain the luminescence of this system. It was found that the band structure of the organic component rather than the molecular triplet state was able to explain the observed luminescence. Deuterated (Ln(C15H9O9)3(D2O)3) and dehydrated (Ln(C15H9O9)3) analogues were also studied. When bound H2O was replaced by D2O, lifetime and emission increased as expected. Upon dehydration, lifetimes increased again, but emission of 1-Eu unexpectedly decreased. This reduction is reasoned through an unprecedented enhancement effect of the compounds luminescence by the OH/OD oscillators in the organic-to-Eu(III) energy transfer process.

Nitroaromatic sensing with a new lanthanide coordination polymer [Er2(C10H4O4S2)3(H2O)6]n assembled by 2,2′-bithiophene-5,5′-dicarboxylate

A new three dimensional lanthanide-containing coordination polymer composed of 2,2′-bithiophene-5,5′-dicarboxylic acid ([Er2(C10H4O4S2)3(H2O)6]n) was solvothermally synthesized and characterized using single crystal X-ray diffraction, PXRD, FTIR, TGA, and luminescence measurements. The emission of this compound dispersed in ethanol is linker based and is quenched upon addition of nitroaromatic species due to a charge transfer from the MOF to the nitroaromatic species. This compound is able to sense a variety of nitroaromatic species, but is particularly sensitive to nitrophenols and nitroaniline.

Synthesis and Characterization, Including Cancer Cell Line Inhibition, of Group VA (Group 15)-Containing Polyesters from Reaction with Camphoric Acid

Polyesters were rapidly synthesized employing interfacial polymerization from reaction of the salt of camphoric acid with Group VA (Group 15) triphenylmetallic dihalides. Yields range from 25 to 46 percent with chain lengths about 250. Infrared spectroscopy shows the formation of two new bands one assigned to the symmetrical M–O stretching and the second assigned to the asymmetrical M–O stretching. The bridging structure about the metal atom increases as the metal atom size increases. MALDI MS and proton NMR are consistent with the formation of the polyester structure. Ion fragment clusters to four to six units are identified. The polymers show good inhibition of a group of cancer cell lines including two pancreatic human cancer cell lines. In comparison with other metal/camphoric acid polymers, the metallocene polymers exhibit low EC50 to the nanogram/ml range, and CI50 values greater than one thousand for the hafnocene and zirconocene products. If this trend continues, the emphasis should be on the Group IVB metallocenes with respect to efforts to create anticancer drugs.

Synthesis and Structural and Initial Cancer Cell Line Characterization of Organotin Polyesters from Dipicolinic Acid

The interfacial polymerization is employed to produce high polymer poly(ester ethers) from the reaction of the salt of dipicolinic acid and various organotin dihalides. They are rapidly synthesized with yield increasing as the length of the organotin alkyl chain increases. Infrared spectroscopy shows the formation of new bands derived from the Sn–O and Sn–O(CO) linkages. IR also shows that the products exist as a combination of molecular geometries about the tin atom. MALDI MS shows formation of ion fragment clusters to five and six units in length. The products show good inhibition of a variety of cancer cell lines including two pancreatic cancer cell lines.