Editorial [Hot Topic: Recent Developments in Coordination Chemistry of Lanthanide Cations (Guest Editor: Loic J. Charbonniere)]

Even though the history of lanthanide chemistry dates back to the end of the eighteens century, this field of coordination chemistry has continuously strived new researches and developments associated to the exceptional spectroscopic and magnetic properties of this particular series of the periodic table. Phosphors for lighting or display devices or contrast agents used in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging are daily life applications originating from this long chemical saga in which all the steps going from the discovery of these elements to their use in practical devices have been climbed by the passionate works of researchers, engineers and highlighted spirits. This issue of Current Inorganic Chemistry is devoted to some of the most recent developments in the coordination chemistry of lanthanide cations. It aims both at reviewing the latest achievements in some established fields and also at directing the interested readers to rather new domains and perspectives that have emerged in the recent years. The first contribution is dedicated to some basic photophysical properties of luminescent lanthanide complexes with a survey on lanthanide based markers for luminescence biolabelling and their associated chemistry, and it is followed by a second article which covers the use of luminescent lanthanide complexes for applications in energy transfer experiments and in fluoroimmunoassays. Progresses in anion sensing will be given in a third chapter, with a special emphasis on complexes with cyclen based structures and the following article will be devoted to the luminescence properties of heteropolynuclear structures. The fifth contribution of this topical issue will be focused on the latest advance of NMR contrast agents and more specifically on smart agents for sensing endogeneous cations. Finally, the two last chapters aim at highlighting some emerging and flourishing fields of lanthanide containing compounds. They cover the aspects of in silico modelisation of the coordination chemistry of 4f elements for investigation of their spectroscopic and magnetic behaviour, and the developments and properties of lanthanide based nanoparticles with special attention to their biomedical applications. Finally, I would like to acknowledge warmly the contributors of this special inaugural issue, who all agreed enthusiastically to take part in this adventure that is the launching of a new journal, and the reviewers who took of their precious time to contribute to ensure a high scientific quality in the contents of the articles. Many thanks to all of you.