High circularly polarized luminescence brightness from analogues of Shibasaki's lanthanide complexes

To reach the promising potential of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) emitters, high CPL brightness must be achieved. We describe the synthesis of analogues of the C3-symmetrical Shibasaki's lanthanide complexes (Sm, Tb, Dy) supported by enantiopure 5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (H8-Binol). The complexes exhibit visible luminescence in solution with exceptionally high quantum yields for Sm (4%) and Dy (17%), and strong circularly polarized luminescence for Sm, Tb, and Dy (|glum| up to 0.44, 0.32, 0.33, respectively). Altogether, these complexes possess amongst the strongest CPL brightness reported to date in lanthanide molecular complexes (up to 782 M-1 cm-1 for Tb).