Dynamic measurements of aqueous lanthanide triflate-catalyzed reactions using luminescence decay

There is tremendous interest in water-compatible lanthanide triflate-based catalysts for carbon−carbon bond forming reactions; however, poor understanding of their aqueous mechanism severely limits the ability to increase the utility of these catalysts. Here, we report dynamic measurements of the water-coordination number of lanthanide triflate-based catalysts using luminescence-decay measurements in a range of aqueous systems. This unique characterization method is a reliable, convenient, and fast approach to analyze lanthanide-based catalysts in aqueous systems.