1. Rare Earth Calixarene Complexes in a Sol-Gel Matrix: Synthesis and Luminescence Karen S. Brewer, Department of Chemistry, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY 13323
Calixarene complexes of the rare earth ions can enhance fluorescence ligand-to-rare earth energy transfer (antenna effect) as well as through the reduction of hydroxyl and cluster quenching present in sol-gel matrices
This year we continued the synthesis of calixarene rare earth complexes and their incorporation into silica sol gels.
Using DMF as a co-solvent in the preparation of the gels, we can obtain monolithic samples doped with rare-earth complexes
The project is being expanded to include the synthesis of porphyrin and crown ether complexes of europium and terbium and their incorporation into silica sol-gels.
“Wet gels” doped with Tb-tetra-t-butylcalix[4]arene complex made with THF (left) and DMF (right) as co-solvents.