Controlled heterometallic composition in linear trinuclear [LnCeLn] lanthanide molecular assemblies

The combination of two different beta-diketone ligands facilitates the size-controlled assembly of pure heterometallic [LnLn '' Ln] linear compounds thanks to two different coordination sites present in the molecular scaffold. [HoCeHo], [ErCeEr], and [YbCeYb] analogues are presented here and are characterized both in the solid state and in solution, demonstrating the selectivity of this unique method to produce heterometallic 4f molecular entities