Unexpected coordination chemistry of bisphenanthroline complexes within hybrid materials: a mild way to Eu(2+) containing materials with bright yellow luminescence.

A hybrid organic−inorganic material containing bisphenanthroline units forming tetrahedral cavities was prepared. We show that these cavities not only allow the incorporation of Cu2+ and Eu3+ ions but also induce the reduction of these ions in Cu+ and Eu2+, respectively. The Eu2+ containing material shows an extremely bright yellow luminescence and might be therefore a candidate for future applications.