Syntheses, structures, photoluminescence, and near-infrared of pentanuclear Tb(III), Yb(III) dibenzoylmethane complexes

Two pentanuclear terbium and ytterbium hydroxy cluster of composition Ln5(μ4-OH)(μ3-OH)4(μ-η2-Ph2acac)4(η2-DBM)6 were prepared starting from LnCl3·6H2O and dibenzoylmethane [Ln = Tb (1), Yb (2), DBM = dibenzoylmethane]. X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals that complexes 1 and 2 crystallize in the tetragonal space group P4/n, and the lanthanide atoms adopt the expected square-based pyramidal arrangement. Property investigation indicates that complexes 1 and 2 display characteristics of luminescence of Tb(III) and near-infrared of Yb(III).