Coordination chemistry in the solid: evidence for coordination modes within hybrid materials different from those in solution.

Two routes of incorporation of europium(III) salts into cyclam-containing hybrid materials have been explored, to elucidate the coordination mode of EuIII in cyclam-containing hybrid materials in a study of the arrangement of cyclam moieties during the solgel process. They were 1) complexation of europium salts by N-tetrasubstituted 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) derivatives bearing four hydrolysable Si(OEt)3 groups, followed by hydrolysis and polycondensation of these complexes; and 2) hydrolysis and polycondensation of N-tetrasubstituted silylated cyclam derivatives, then incorporation of europium salts directly into the hybrid materials. The coordination mode of europium salts within solids is not the same as in solution.