Session: Coordination Chemistry: Synthesis and Characterization:

Rare earth and alkaline earth coordination complexes containing the bidentate beta-diketonate ligand have regained prominence in the last two decades due to the variability allowed by beta-diketonate ligand substituents, which allows for tuning of their acid-base properties, volatility, solubility, and optical properties (absorption and emission). Although beta-diketonate ligands are extremely common, they have seldom been isolated and fully characterized as their salts. We sought to isolate the Sodium, Cesium, and Tetrabutylammonium salts of beta-diketonates and compare their solubility and optical properties. Even more importantly, we sought to use them to prepare various rare earth complexes as well as strontium and magnesium complexes using solution synthesis and mechanochemistry. The simple salts of the beta-diketonates were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, DSC, and XRD as were the resulting coordination complexes. Comparison of yields of pure materials and the amount of solvent required to obtain analytically pure materials will also be discussed.

Matt Gordon

Ph.D. Candidate, Indiana University

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