Crystal structure of N,N-bis(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl)leucine and photochromism of the Eu3+-PML-phen complex

The title compound N,N-bis(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl)leucine (PML) has been prepared, and its crystal structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The molecule has four conformations differing from each other in the corresponding bond lengths and angles, which may arise from steric effect of the bulky groups. The europium(III) complex with PML and 1,10-phenanthroline(phen) has photochromic reactivity in aqueous medium, which was studied spectroscopically. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.