文摘
The recent upsurge of interest in contrast agents for magneticresonance imaging, of luminescent chemosensors for medicaldiagnostic, and lately, for optical imaging of cells has generatedan impressive momentum for the coordination and supramolecularchemistry of trivalent lanthanide ions. We shortly review thesynthetic methods allowing the introduction of these spherical ionswith fascinating optical and magnetic properties into elaboratemono- and polymetallic edifices. We then illustrate these methodsby selected examples describing the use of (i) a coronand toproduce luminescent liquid crystals, (ii) derivatized calixarenes for4f-5f element separation, (iii) podates for the production ofnanoparticles with high relaxivity and for sensitizing the near-infrared (NIR) emission, and (iv) self-assembly processes forproducing functional bimetallic edifices.