Four new hetero-pentanuclear 3d–4f complexes [Zn4(L)2La(NO3)2(OEt)(H2O)] (1), [Zn4(L)2Ce(NO3)2(OMe)(MeOH)] (2), [Zn4(L)2Pr(NO3)2(OEt)(EtOH)] (3) and [Zn4(L)2Nd(NO3)2(OMe)(MeOH)] (4) were synthesized by the reactions of a newly synthesized octadentate bis(salamo)-based tetraoxime ligand (H4L) with Zn(OAc)2·2H2O and Ln(NO3)3·6H2O (Ln = La, Ce, Pr and Nd), respectively, and characterized via elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The X-ray crystallographic investigation revealed that all ZnII ions were located in N2O3 coordination spheres, and possessed a trigonal bipyramid coordination environment. The LnIII ion lay in an O8 coordination sphere, and adopted a distorted square antiprismatic coordination environment. Furthermore, supramolecular interactions and fluorescence properties were investigated.
![Graphical abstract: Four rare structurally characterized hetero-pentanuclear [Zn4Ln] bis(salamo)-type complexes: syntheses, crystal structures and spectroscopic properties](http://hg.y866.cn/compound/lib/scimg/usr/1/C9RA07423F.jpg)
