Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of a New Tetranuclear Terbium Hydroxotrifluoroacetate

In the reaction of terbium trifluoroacetate Tb(tfa) 3 (H 2 O) 3 with diethylenetriamine (deta) in air, tetranuclear terbium hydroxotrifluoroacetate [Tb 4 (OH) 4 (tfa) 3 (deta) 4 (detadcH) 2 ](tfa) 4 (detaH)(H 2 O) ( Tb 4 ) is obtained and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), powder XRD, IR spectroscopy, and TGA. The structure of the complex cation with the isolated metal-oxygen cubane core {Tb 4 (μ-OH) 4 } and the cation packing motif are analyzed. The thermal behavior of the Tb 4 compound in air is studied and its decomposition product is found to be terbium oxide. Tb 4 exhibits metal-centered luminescence and can be used as a platform for mixed-metal luminescent materials.