Tribo-Excited Chemical Reaction Using an Eu III Complex with a Stacked Anthracene Framework.

A spin-selective tribo-chemical reaction using a dinuclear lanthanide complex is demonstrated for the first time. The dinuclear complex is composed of two Eu III ions, hexafluoroacetylacetonato ligands, and anthracene-based phosphine oxide bridges. Single-crystal analysis revealed a face-to-face-type anthracene dimer structure in the dinuclear Eu III complex. Mechanical stimulus on the dinuclear Eu III complex induced selective formation of oxidized anthracene. The tribo-chemical reaction is based on a characteristic energy-transfer pathway for the selective formation of an excited triplet state.