Synthesis, structural characterization and fluorescent sensing properties of terbium(Tb+3) complex derived from dialdehyde ligand

Abstract In this paper, we report the preparation of terbium(Tb +3 ) complex 2 (Diaqua-tris(nitrato)-(2(pyridine-2,6-diyl(methyleneoxy))benzaldehyde)terbium(III)) by the mechanochemical route in good yields, which demonstrated to be superior to conventional method in terms of simplicity, reaction time, cost and reproducibility. Complex 2 and its free ligand 1 (2,6-bis[2-formylphenoxymethyl]pyridine) were characterized by UV–Vis and FT-IR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. In addition, the complex was structurally characterized by Single-crystal XRD, and thermal analysis. The X-ray structure of complex demonstrates that terbium atom adopts a monocapped square antiprismatic geometry and cocrystallizes with one molecule of ligand in the asymmetric unit. Likewise, the effect of pH on the complex and its ligand revealed that fluorescent intensity is increased under alkaline conditions. In a preliminary study on selected heavy metals, terbium complex showed a good sensitive towards Cu +2 ions at low concentrations with the decrease of emission response.