Energy Transfer between p-Benzoylbenzoate and Europium Ethylenediaminetetraacetate in Water Solution

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Abstract
Ultraviolet radiation absorbed by the p‐benzoylbenzoate (p‐BB−) ion in solution is transferred to an appreciable extent to the europium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EuEDTA−) ion and is re‐emitted as the visible red fluorescence characteristic of Eu3+. Fluorescence intensity is greater in D2O than in water. The fluorescence is quenched by dissolved O2. Although evidence for mixed ligand complexes involving p‐BB− and EuEDTA− was obtained, fluorescence seems to result from ultraviolet absorption by free p‐BB− ions followed by intermolecular energy transfer to free EuEDTA− ions. The analogous water systems containing o‐BB− or m‐BB− are nonfluorescent, although all three of the solid hydrated salts Eu(o‐BB)3, Eu(m‐BB)3, and Eu(p‐BB)3 fluoresce brightly at room temperature.