Dinuclear complexes of europium(III) and gadolinium(III) ions with a julolidine–quinoline-based tridentate ligand

The reaction of europium(III) or gadolinium(III) acetates with a Schiff base ligand {HL (C22H21N3O) = ((E)-9-((quinolin-8-ylimino)methyl)-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrido[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-8-ol)} in methanol affords two dinuclear complexes which have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope–electron dispersive spectroscopy, absorption and emission spectroscopies as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [Eu2L2(CH3COO)4(CH3OH)2] (1) and [Gd2L2(CH3COO)4(CH3OH)2] (2) are iso-structures, each consisting of two M : L : CH3COO : CH3OH (1 : 1 : 1 : 1) units bridged by two acetate anions with the metal center in a distorted capped square antiprismatic coordination geometry. Their vibration modes, electronic structures, and photoluminescent properties are reported.