Conformation-controlled luminescent properties of lanthanide clusters containing p-tert-butylsulfonylcalix[4]arene

Dinuclear and cubane-shaped lanthanide cluster complexes containing Eu-III and Tb-III were synthesized by step-by-step construction using p-tert-butylsulfonylcalix[4]arene as a cluster-forming ligand. The sulfonylcalixarene adopts a pinched-cone conformation in the dinuclear complexes and a cone conformation in the cubane complexes. Because the calixarene has a large pi-conjugate system expanding over the entire molecule, it behaves as a good antenna chromophore for UV and near-UV light, and a slight conformational change of the calixarene ( from cone to pinched-cone and vice versa) has an effect on the energy levels of excited S-1 and T-1 states. As a result, selectivity is observed in the luminescent properties of dinuclear and cubane-shaped systems of Eu-III and Tb-III.