The reaction of Ln(NO3)2·6H2O salts (Ln = Eu and Tb) with an excess of 2-fluorobenzoic acid (H-2FBz) in an ethanol/water mixture allows the isolation of dinuclear compounds with the formula [Ln2(μ2-2FBz)4(2FBz)2(H-2FBz)2(H2O)2] (Ln = Eu (1) and Tb (2), 2FBz = 2-fluorobenzoate). A solid-state photoluminescence study of complexes 1 and 2 shows the 4f–4f lanthanide transitions in the visible range with improved emission quantum yields. 1 and 2 are water soluble and photoluminescence studies have also been performed in water and D2O solutions, showing that the emission due to the 4f–4f electronic transitions is still present. The magnetic behaviors of 1 and 2 are also reported.
