Europium acetylacetonate

Europium acetylacetonate is a coordination complex with formula Eu(C5H7O2)3. Although this anhydrous acetylacetonate complex is widely discussed, some sources suggest that it is really the dihydrate Eu(C5H7O2)3(H2O)2.

Upon attempted dehydration by heating under vacuum, the dihydrate converts to the oxo-cluster Eu4O(C5H7O2)10. This behavior is also observed for gadolinium acetylacetonate, yttrium acetylacetonate, lanthanum acetylacetonate, and erbium acetylacetonate.

The electronic structure of the core gives the complex an unusual charge-transfer band absent in other lanthanide acetylacetonates. The photoluminescent emission lines occur near 465 (blue), 525 (green), and 579 nm (yellow), and are unusually sharp, especially the yellow doublet. Doping a blend of polyacrylate and polycarbonate with europium acetylacetonate enhances photoluminescence over a broad range of ultraviolet wavelengths. EuFOD is a substituted derivative.