Controllable three-component luminescence from a 1,8-naphthalimide/Eu(III) complex: white light emission from a single molecule

A macrocycle-appended naphthalimide derivative and its Eu(III) complex show triple luminescence from isolated naphthalimide (blue), aggregated naphthalimide excimers (green) and Eu centres (red) with the balance being sensitive to the degree of aggregation, allowing white light emission to be obtained from a single molecule.