Three Isostructural 4‐Sulfophthalate‐Based Lanthanide Complexes: Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Luminescent Properties

Abstract Three lanthanide complexes with the ligand 4‐sulfophthalate (sp3–), [Ln(H2O)2(sp)]n [Ln = Dy (1), Tb (2), and Er (3)], were solvo‐/hydrothermally synthesized by changing the rare earth cations, and were characterized structurally and photophysically. Complexes 1–3 are isostructural, exhibiting a two‐dimensional layered structure with centrosymmetric dinuclear subunits infinitely extended by 4‐connected sp3– connectors. Photoluminescence spectra of 1–3 demonstrate that anionic sp3– ligand can serve as a functionalized chromophore to sensitize the luminescent emission of the lanthanide ion, suggesting that the sp3–‐involved lanthanide complexes can be used as novel optical materials.