Low-temperature biligand complexes of europium and samarium with mesogenic alkylcyanobiphenyls

For low-temperature cocondensates of europium and samarium (M) with a mesogenic ligand 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (L), IR and UV spectroscopy studies have revealed the formation of two ML complexes (M/L = 1:2 and 1:1). Model calculations have been carried out in terms of density functional theory using the B3LYP exchange correlation potential. Biligand structures with an antiparallel arrangement of two ligand molecules including one and two metal atoms, respectively, are suggested. The values of the spectral shifts and the relative thermal stability of the complexes are discussed.