Multiple modulator-induced syntheses, crystal structures, and luminescent properties on hippuric acid and bovine serum albumin of Ln(III) complexes with 2,2′-oxybis(benzoic acid)

Six new coordination complexes, Ln2(2,2′-oba)2(phen)2(ox)(H2O)2 (Ln = Eu 1, Tb 2), Ln4(2,2′-oba)6(phen)2 (Ln = Eu 3, Tb 4), Eu4(2,2′-oba)6(phen)2(H2O) (5), and K[Eu(2,2′-oba)2(phen)2] (6) [2,2′-H2oba = 2,2′-oxybis(benzoic acid), phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, H2ox = oxalic acid] were synthesized by hydrothermal reactions with the same compound molar ratios but different modulatory reagents (MRs). Complexes 1–5 have different 1-D chain structures and 6 shows a mononuclear structure. These complexes form diverse 3-D supramolecular networks through hydrogen bonds. The interaction between these complexes and hippuric acid (HA) or bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by fluorescence spectral analysis. Interestingly, the hippuric acid could quench the luminescence of these complexes while the fluorescence of BSA could be quenched by these complexes. Results suggested that the complexes may be potential luminescent testing reagents for HA or BSA by significant fluorescence quenching of Ln3+ or BSA, respectively, through a static and dynamic quenching process.