The first observation of 4f-luminescence in new heteronuclear lanthanide-germanium complexes.

New lanthanide-germanium complexes with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) have been synthesized and were characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR-, UV-absorption and luminescent spectroscopy. The 4f-luminescence of heteronuclear Ln(Ge-DTPA)2 (Ln=Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy) complexes in aqueous solutions was investigated for the first time.