Synthesis, structure, and optical properties of lanthanum(III), cerium(III), praseodymium(III), and nickel(II) heterometallic complexes with glycine

Abstract

New cluster complexes of lanthanides(III) and nickel(II) [Ln{Ni(Gly)₂}₆]³⁺[Ln(NO₃)₆]^3– have been synthesized, where Ln = La (I), Ce (II), and Pr (III); and Gly is glycinate. The structures of compounds I–III are determined by X-ray diffraction. The icosahedral cavity in the complex cation, where the lanthanide ion resides, has a fixed size independent of the nature of the central Ln(III) ion. In the complex anion, on the contrary, the Ln–O distances naturally decrease from La(III) to Pr(III). The optical properties of cationanion complexes I–III are studied. Based on the assignment in the electronic absorption spectra of the complexes, it is shown that the absorption bands are caused by d–d electronic transitions.