Tuning the photophysical properties of luminescent lanthanide complexes through regioselective antenna fluorination.

Carbostyrils monofluorinated in the 3, 5, or 6 positions were synthesised from olefinic precursors via a photochemical isomerisation-cyclisation route, and incorporated into octadentate cyclen triacetate ligands that formed luminescent complexes with Tb(III) and Eu(III). The photophysical properties of the emitters were strongly dependent on the position of the fluorination.