Functionalized 3d/4f coordination oligomers and polymers

Lanthanides are the first period of f-block elements ranging from Cerium to lutetium (La-Lu, Z = 57-71) in the periodic table. Together with scandium and yttrium, they are called rare earth elements (REEs). Lanthanides have traditionally been divided into two groups: the light rare earth elements (LREEs), lanthanum to europium (Z = 57-63), and the heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), gadolinium to lutetium (Z = 64-71). When they were first discovered and isolated, they were called ''rare earth'' elements due to the assumption that they are less abundant compared to other elements. Indeed, all lanthanides (except radioactive promethium) including the least common element, thulium, are more abundant in earth's crust than bismuth, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and other precious metals.[1]