Synthesis and fluorescence properties of Tb(III) complexes with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid derivatives

Two novel ligands named 4-styrylpyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (4-SPDA) and 4-(4-(2-(2, 6-dicarboxypyridin-4-yl)-vinyl)styryl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid(DSPDA) and their complexes with Tb(III) were synthesized and characterized by infrared spectrometry, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, elemental analysis and gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry. The ligand synthetic route was optimized. The fluorescence properties of the complex in solid state, in different kind of solvents and in solutions with different pH values were investigated in detail. The results show that the yields of DSPDA and 4-SPDA reach over 78% by Wittig-Horner reaction and other eight pyridine-2, 6-dicarboxylic acid derivatives with different substituents on pyridine ring, and their complexes with Tb(III) are also obtained. The fluorescence intensities of the complexes with electron-donating groups are more intense than those of the complexes with electron-withdrawing groups on pyridine ring; fluorescence intensities of the complexes are the strongest in neutral solution (pH=7), and the less the dipole moment of solvent molecule is, the stronger the fluorescence intensity is. It is found that the two ligands (4-APDA and DSPDA) are the good sensitizers for Tb(III) ion.