Deiters, EmmanuelGumy, FredericBuenzli, Jean-Claude C.2011-03-102011-03-10201010.1002/ejic.200901148https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/65270WOS:000279975400022Two monotopic tridentate ligands, namely HLAB1 and HLAB2 have been synthesized which feature an acridone chromophore fused on a benzimidazolepyridine framework. They differ from each other by their connection points between a N-methylacridone and a N-methylbenzimidazole chromophoric moieties. Both ligands self-assemble with Ln(III) ions in neat acetonitrile to form thermodynamically stable neutral complexes of general formula [Ln(L-ABX)(3)] (log beta(13) in the range 22-25). Subsequent photophysical investigations conducted in the same solvent demonstrate that ligand HLAB1 sensitizes europium luminescence (Q(Eu)(L) = 10% and tau(Eu) = 0.93 ms) whereas ligand HLAB2 sensitizes the luminescence of NIR-emitting Ln(III) ions, in particular Yb-III (Q(Yb)(L) = 0.86 % and tau(Yb) = 29.3 mu s). The sensitization efficiencies eta(sens) of both ligands have been determined for these two complexes and found to be around 50-60%. The main advantage of these ligands is their excitation wavelength which lies in the visible range (410-430 nm).Tridentate ligandsLuminescenceEnergy transferLanthanidesSensitizersRadiative lifetimeSensitization efficiencyVisible-Light SensitizationTridentate Aromatic LigandsNear-Infrared LuminescencePhotophysical PropertiesEfficient SensitizationEuropium(Iii) LuminescenceEmission-SpectrumCross-SectionsExcited-StatesYb3+ Emissiontext::journal::journal article::research article