A novel pentadecanuclear lanthanide hydroxy cluster [{Ln15(μ3-OH)20(PepCO2)10(DBM)10Cl}Cl4] (Ln = Eu (1), Tb (2)) featuring the first example with peptoids as supporting ligands was prepared and fully characterized. The solid-state structures of 1 and 2 were established via single-crystal X-ray crystallography. ESI-MS experiments revealed the retention of the cluster core in solution. Although OH groups are present, 1 showed intense red fluorescence with 11(1)% absolute quantum yield, whereas the emission intensity and the quantum yield of 2 were significantly weaker. In vitro investigations on 1 and 2 with HeLa tumor cells revealed an accumulation of the clusters in the endosomal-lyosomal system, as confirmed by confocal microscopy in the TRLLM mode. The cytotoxicity of 1 and 2 toward the HeLa cells is moderate.

2D (1)H,(89)Y heteronuclear shift correlation through scalar coupling has been applied to the chemical-shift determination of a set of yttrium complexes with various nuclearities. This method allowed the determination of (89)Y NMR data in a short period of time. Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy as function of temperature, PGSE NMR-diffusion experiments, heteronuclear NOE measurements, and X-ray crystallography were applied to determine the structures of [Y(5)(OH)(5)(L-Val)(4)(Ph(2)acac)(6)] (1) (Ph(2)acac=dibenzoylmethanide, L-Val=L-valine), [Y(2)(OTf)(3)] (3), and [Y(2)(4)(OTf)(5)] (5) (2: [(S)P{N(Me)N=C(H)Py}(3)], 4: [B{N(Me)N=C(H)Py}(4)](-)) in solution and in the solid state. The structures found in the solid state are retained in solution, where averaged structures were observed. NMR diffusion measurements helped us to understand the nuclearity of compounds 3 and 5 in solution. (1)H,(19)F HOESY and (19)F,(19)F EXSY data revealed that the anions are specifically located in particular regions of space, which nicely correlated with the geometries found in the X-ray structures.

The successful embedding of different amounts and types of hydrophobic rare earth clusters (Ln = Y, Pr, Eu, Sm, Nd) in various polymer matrices via miniemulsion polymerization is presented. The resulting cluster‐polymer hybrid nanoparticles are spherical in shape and possess a narrow size distribution, as investigated by photon cross correlation spectroscopy (PCCS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The exact Ln‐content in the nanoparticles is exemplarily investigated for Eu‐ and Nd‐containing polymer dispersions via inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES). As a result of encapsulation more than 1000 mg · L−1 of the hydrophobic Ln‐cluster are successfully dispersed in water. The photophysical properties of the emulsion show the successful avoidance of water from the vicinity of the clusters. Furthermore, a very efficient energy transfer from the ligand and polymeric unit to Eu3+ ions can be observed in dispersion. Based on the different glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the applied polymers, monolayers of the nanoparticles and efficient luminescent thin polymer films are obtained by spin coating. magnified image

Two types of structurally related one-dimensional coordination polymers were prepared by reacting lanthanide trichloride hydrates [LnCl(3)·(H(2)O)(m)] with dibenzoylmethane (Ph(2)acacH) and a base. Using cesium carbonate (Cs(2)CO(3)) and praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, or dysprosium salts yielded [Cs{Ln(Ph(2)acac)(4)}](n) (Ln = Pr (1), Nd (2), Sm (3), Dy (4)) in considerable yields. Reaction of potassium tert-butoxide (KOtBu) and the neodymium salt [NdCl(3)·(H(2)O)(6)] with Ph(2)acacH resulted in [K{Nd(Ph(2)acac)(4)}](n) (5). All polymers exhibit a heterobimetallic backbone composed of alternating lanthanide and alkali metal atoms which are bridged by the Ph(2)acac ligands in a linear fashion. ESI-MS investigations on DMF solutions of 1-5 revealed a dissociation of all the five compounds upon dissolution, irrespective of the individual lanthanide and alkali metal present. Temporal profiles of changes in optical density were acquired performing pump/probe experiments with DMF solutions of 1-5 via femtosecond laser spectroscopy, highlighting a lanthanide-specific relaxation dynamic. The corresponding relaxation times ranging from seven picoseconds to a few hundred picoseconds are strongly dependent on the central lanthanide atom, indicating an intramolecular energy transfer from ligands to lanthanides. This interpretation also demands efficient intersystem crossing within one to two picoseconds from the S(1) to T(1) level of the ligands. Magnetic studies show that [Cs{Dy(Ph(2)acac)(4)}](n) (4) has slow relaxation of the magnetization arising from the single Dy(3+) ions and can be described as a single-ion single molecule magnet (SMM). Below 0.5 K, hysteresis loops of the magnetization are observed, which show weak single chain magnet (SCM) behavior.

The synthesis of the four mixed pentanuclear yttrium hydroxy clusters [Y(5)(OH)(5)(alpha-AA)(4)(Ph(2)acac)(6)] (alpha-AA = D-phenyl glycine, L-proline, L-valine, and L-tryptophan; Ph(2)acac = dibenzoylmethanide) is reported. The solid state structures of all compounds were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction. In these enantiomerically pure chiral clusters the dibenzoylmethanide and amino acid ligands are accommodated in the coordination spheres of the yttrium atoms. The specific optical rotations of all four compounds were determined. PGSE NMR diffusion measurements as function of concentration have been carried out on one model cluster, proving these molecules to be prone to aggregation in chloroform solutions.

The synthesis and characterization of three chiral and one achiral amino acid anion ligated dysprosium hydroxo clusters [Dy5(OH)5(α-AA)4(Ph2acac)6] (α-AA = d-PhGly, l-Pro, l-Trp, Ph2Gly; Ph2acac = dibenzoylmethanide) are reported. The solid state structures were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction and show that five Dy(iii) ions are arranged in a square-based pyramidal geometry with NO7-donor-sets for the basal and O8-donor-sets for the apical Dy atom. Both static (dc) and dynamic (ac) magnetic properties were investigated for all four compounds and show a slow relaxation of magnetization, indicative of single molecule magnet (SMM) behaviour below 10 K in all cases. The similar SMM behaviour observed for all four compounds suggests that the very similar coordination geometries seen for the dysprosium atoms in all members of this family, which are independent of the amino acid ligand used, play a decisive role in steering the contribution of the single ion anisotropies to the observed magnetic relaxation.

The first heterobimetallic Bi:Sn alkoxide complexes [Bi(2)SnO(OCH(CF(3))(2))(5)(O(t)Bu)(3)(THF)] (1) and [BiSnO(OCH(CF(3))(2))(3)(O(t)Bu)(2)](2) (2) are described. The complexes were obtained through mixing and heating equimolar quantities of the component alkoxides, Bi(OCH(CF(3))(2))(3) and Sn(O(t)Bu)(4), under solvent-free conditions (1) and in THF (2). The solid-state structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction showing ligand redistribution from Bi(III) to Sn(IV) in the two molecular species. Compound 2 behaves as a single-source precursor for the thermolytic formation of bismuth pyrostannate, Bi(2)Sn(2)O(7).

A new family of pentadecanuclear coordination cluster compounds (from now on simply referred to as clusters) [{Ln15 (OH)20 (PepCO2 )10 (DBM)10 Cl}Cl4 ] (PepCO2 =2-[{3-(((tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino)methyl)benzyl}amino]acetate, DBM=dibenzoylmethanide) with Ln=Y and Dy was obtained by using the cell-penetrating peptoid (CPPo) monomer PepCO2 H and dibenzoylmethane (DBMH) as supporting ligands. The combination of an inorganic cluster core with an organic cell-penetrating peptoid in the coordination sphere resulted in a core component {Ln15 (μ3 -OH)20 Cl}(24+) (Ln=Y, Dy), which consists of five vertex-sharing heterocubane {Ln4 (μ3 -OH)4 }(8+) units that assemble to give a pentagonal cyclic structure with one Cl atom located in the middle of the pentagon. The solid-state structures of both clusters were established by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. MS (ESI) experiments suggest that the cluster core is robust and maintained in solution. Pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) NMR diffusion measurements were carried out on the diamagnetic yttrium compound and confirmed the stability of the cluster in its dicationic form [{Y15 (μ3 -OH)20 (PepCO2 )10 (DBM)10 Cl}Cl2 ](2+) . The investigation of both static (dc) and dynamic (ac) magnetic properties in the dysprosium cluster revealed a slow relaxation of magnetization, indicative of single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior below 8 K. Furthermore, the χT product as a function of temperature for the dysprosium cluster gave evidence that this is a ferromagnetically coupled compound below 11 K.