Synthesis and characterization of samarium(III) and europium(III) complexes encapsulated in the nanopores of zeolite-Y

Zeolite-Y containing; [LnL^1–4]³⁺@NaY, Ln = Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺; L¹: 10,21-dimethyl 3,6,14,17-tetraazatricyclo[17.3.1.1^8,12]tetracosa-1(23),2,6,8(24),9,11,13,17,19,21-decaene-23,24-diol, L²: 11,23-dimethyl-3,7,15,19-tetraazatricyclo[19.3.1.1^9,13]hexacosa-1(25),2,7,9(26),10,12,14,19,21,23-decaene-25,26-diol, L³: 14,29-dimethyl-3,10,18,25-tetraazapentacyclo[25.3.1.1^12,16.0^4,9.0^19,24]dotriaconta-1(31),2, 4(9),5,7,10, 12(32), 13,15,17,19(24),20,22,25,27,29-hexadecaene-31,32-diol, L⁴:6,20-dimethyl-2,10,16,24-tetraazapentacyclo [23.3.1.1^4,8.1^11,15.1^18,22]dotriacon ta-1(29), 2,4,6,8(32),9,11(31), 12,14,16,18(30), 19,21,23,25,27-hexadecaene-30,32-diol; were successfully prepared by template synthesis of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol with diamine in the presence of Ln(III)-NaY. New complex nanoparticles entrapped in the nanopores of zeolite Y were characterized by several techniques: chemical analysis and spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, UV/Vis, XRD, BET, and DRS). Analysis of data indicates that the Ln(III) complexes are encapsulated in the nanocavity of zeolite-Y and exhibit different properties from those of the free complexes, which can arise from distortions caused by steric effects due to presence of sodium cations, or from interactions with the zeolite matrix.