Two types of dimeric complexes [Ln
2(hfa)
6(
2-O(CH
2)
2NHMe
2)
2] and [Ln(
thd)
2(
2,
2-O(CH
2)
2NMe
2)]
2 (Ln= Y
III, Eu
III, Gd
III, Tb
III, Tm
III, Lu
III; hfa
- = hexafluoroacetylacetonato,
thd
- = dipivaloylme
thanato) areobtained by reacting [Ln(hfa)
3(H
2O)
2] and [Ln(
thd)
3], respectively, wi
th N,
N-dime
thylaminoe
thanol in tolueneand are fully characterized. X-ray single crystal analysis performed for
the Tb
III compounds confirms
theirdimeric structure. The coordination mode of
N,
N-dime
thylaminoe
thanol depends on
the nature of
the
-diketonate. In [Tb
2(hfa)
6(
2-O(CH
2)
2NHMe
2)
2], eight-coordinate Tb
III ions adopt distorted square antiprismaticcoordination environments and are O-bridged by two zwitterionic
N,
N-dime
thylaminoe
thanol ligands wi
th aTb1···Tb2 separation of 3.684(1) Å. In [Tb(
thd)
2(
2,
2-O(CH
2)
2NMe
2)]
2,
the
N,
N-dime
thylaminoe
thanol actsas chelating-bridging O,N-donor anion and
the Tb
III ions are seven-coordinate;
the Tb1···Tb1A separationamounts to 3.735(2) Å wi
thin centrosymmetric dimers. The dimeric complexes are
thermally stable up to180
C, as shown by
thermogravimetric analysis, and
their volatility is sufficient for quantitative sublimation under reduced pressure. The Eu
III and Tb
III dimers display metal-centered luminescence, particularly[Eu
2(hfa)
6(O(CH
2)
2NHMe
2)
2] (quantum yield
= 58%) and [Tb(
thd)
2(O(CH
2)
2NMe
2)]
2 (32%). Consideration of energy migration pa
ths wi
thin
the dimers, based on
the study of bo
th pure and Eu
III- or Tb
III-doped(0.01-0.1 mol %) Lu
III analogues, leads to
the conclusion
that bo
th the
-diketone and
N,
N-dime
thylaminoe
thanol ligands contribute significantly to
the sensitization process of
the Eu
III luminescence. The ancillaryligand increases considerably
the luminescence of [Eu
2(hfa)
6(O(CH
2)
2NHMe
2)
2], compared to [Ln(hfa)
3(H
2O)
2],
through
the formation of intra-ligand states while it is detrimental to Tb
III luminescence in bo
th -diketonates.Thin films of
the most luminescent compound [Eu
2(hfa)
6(O(CH
2)
2NHMe
2)
2] obtained by vacuum sublimationdisplay photophysical properties analogous to
those of
the solid-state sample,
thus opening perspectives forapplications in electroluminescent devices.