Azobenzene-derived tris-β-diketonate lanthanide complexes: reversible trans-to-cis photoisomerization in solution and solid state.

Novel azobenzene-derived β-diketonates (4,4,5,5,6,6,6-heptafluoro-1-azobenzene-1,3-hexanedione (LA), 4,4,5,5,6,6,6-heptafluoro-1-(4-dimethylamino)azobenzene-1,3-hexanedione (LB)) were designed and their complexes with lanthanide cations (La(3+), Eu(3+), Gd(3+), Yb(3+)) were prepared and characterized by (1)H NMR, FT-IR, and elemental analysis. Three of the complexes were crystallized successfully and identified by X-ray diffraction. It was significant to find that LA showed remarkably reversible trans-to-cis isomerization properties, however, LB, bearing an electron donor compared with LA, slowed down the isomerization to an extent.

Selective recognition of sulfate anions in a 95% ethanol solvent with a simple neutral salicylaldehyde dansyl hydrazine Schiff base tuned by Brønsted-Lowry acid-base reaction.

A new Schiff base compound, 5-(dimethylamino)-N'-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)naphthalene-1-sulfonohydrazide (R), has been synthesized, characterized, and employed as a selective fluorescence receptor for the recognition of sulfate anions. UV-vis absorption, fluorescence emission, (1)H NMR spectra and DFT calculation studies on the system have been carried out to determine the nature of the interactions between R and anions. The results reveal that the deprotonation of the phenol without the need of a strong base leads to the formation of a hydrogen-bonding complex with a -SO2-NH- group, which is responsible for the spectra changes.