Lanthanide-Based Coordination Polymers with a 4,5-Dichlorophthalate Ligand Exhibiting Highly Tunable Luminescence: Toward Luminescent Bar Codes.

Reactions in water of 4,5-dichlorophthalate (dcpa2-) with the heaviest lanthanide ions lead to a family of compounds with the general chemical formula [Ln2(dcpa)3(H2O)5·3H2O]∞, where Ln = Tb-Lu, Y. The synthesis, crystal structure, thermal behavior, and luminescent properties of this series of homonuclear compounds are described. Additionally, this family can be extended to isostructural heteronuclear compounds that can contain some light lanthanide ions and therefore present some original photophysical properties. These compounds show potential interest as multiemissive materials (visible and infrared light between 450 and 1600 nm) and could find application as luminescent bar codes.