Lanthanide-calixarene complexes and their applications

Calixarenes are versatile ligands consisting of multiple phenol units which provide multifunctionality such as ligating atoms, antenna group, structural diversity. These benefits have attracted chemists to explore chemistry of calixarene–lanthanides (Ln), producing profuse knowledge on the stability, structure, properties, and functions of calixarene–trivalent lanthanide (Ln(III)) complexes for more than three decades. The aim of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive view of the present state of calixarene–Ln(III) chemistry, for which the main issue of is shifting from fundamental host-guest and coordination chemistry to applications. The review starts by introducing characteristic features of calixarene ligand, followed by complexation ability toward Ln(III), solid-state structures, luminescence, and magnetic properties of calixarene–Ln(III) complexes. These represent the fundamental part of the review, that is followed by the description of the functionalities of calixarene–Ln(III) complexes such as separation ability, sensing, catalysis, as well as the properties of the corresponding materials. The whole content highlights the multi-functionality of calixarene, which is a key to elicit properties and function of Ln(III) ions.