Lanthanide tweezer complexes for luminescence detection of aromatic pollutants in water

Abstract

Red and green luminescence is sensitised by aromatic guests binding to lanthanide complexes via aromatic, non-covalent interactions. The tweezer shape of the complexes is tailored for the formation of a binding pocket. Europium shows the highest sensitisation with characteristic red luminescence for detection of aromatic guests which are common pollutants in aquatic environments.