Synthesis, crystal structure, luminescent and magnetic properties of europium(III) and terbium(III) complexes with a bidentate benzoate and a tripod N7 ligand containing three imidazole, [LnIII(H3L)benzoate](ClO4)2•H2O•2MeOH (LnIII = EuIII and TbIII)

Eu-III and Tb-III complexes with a benzoate and a tripod N-7 ligand, [Ln(III)(H3L)benzoate](ClO4)(2)center dot H2O center dot 2MeOH (Ln(III) = Eu-III and Tb-III; H3L = tris[2-(((imidazol-4-yl)methylidene)amino)ethyl]amine), were synthesized and crystallized into an isomorphous structure. Each Ln(III) ion is coordinated by one tripod ligand and one benzoate, resulting in a nona-coordinated capped square antiprism geometry. The solid-state emission spectra displayed sharp bands of the f-f transitions. Tb-III complex exhibits a magnetic anisotropy and the ac susceptibility measurements exhibited an out-of-phase signal under 1000 G bias field, indicative slow relaxation of magnetization. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.