Organic-inorganic hybrid materials constructed from inorganic lanthanide sulfate skeletons and organic 4,5-imidazoledicarboxylic acid.

Five different types of the lanthanide sulfate-carboxylates family, [La(2)(SO(4))(Himdc)(2)(H2O)2] , [Gd(2)(SO(4))(2)(Himdc)(H2O)3].H2O , [Ln(2)(SO(4))(2)(Himdc)(H2O)(3)].H2O (Ln = Gd3a, Eu3b), [Eu(6)Cu(SO(4))(6)(Himdc)(4)(H2O)(14)] , and [Ln(Himc)(SO(4))(H2O)] (Ln = Eu5a, Gd5b, Tb5c, Dy5d, Er5e); H(2)imc = 4-imidazolecarboxylic acid, H(3)imdc = 4,5-imidazoledicarboxylic acid) have been obtained by hydrothermal reactions of Ln(2)O(3), transition metal sulfates and H(3)imdc at 170 degrees C and characterized by means of elemental analyses, IR, TG analysis, luminescence spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The 3D structure of 1 is constructed from alternately linkages of organic {La(Himdc)} layers and inorganic {La(2)O(2)(SO(4))} layers, with the La atoms as hinges. 2 and 3a/3b both contain alternately arranged 1D left- and right-handed helical {Ln(imdc)} chains bridged by SO(4)(2-) anions to form a 3D framework with 1D rectangle-like channels along the b axis. The structural differences of 2 and 3a/3b lie in the linkages of the SO(4)(2-) anions. Complex 4 consists of 2D tubular Eu-sulfate layers pillared by {Cu(Himdc)(2)} units to generate a 3D network. Complexes 5a-5e possess 2D bamboo-raft-like layer structures based on helical tubes. Interestingly, H(2)imc comes from the in-situ decarboxylation of H(3)imdc in the hydrothermal reactions. The luminescence properties of the complexes 3a, 4, 5a 5c, 5d were investigated in solid state at room temperature.