3-Eu:  = 34,480 cm -1 , 290 nm; 4-Eu and 4-Yb:  = 24,690 cm -1 , 405 nm). The excitation spectra additionally exhibit vibrationally broadened bands at lower energies and no higher energy electronic excitations are observed that are similar to those seen for [K(2.2.2.cryptand)][Ln{N(Si t BuMe2)2}3], where two features are clearly resolved (Ln = Eu, 30,300 and 35,710 cm -1 , 280 and 330 nm; Yb, 27,780 and 31,250 cm -1 , 320 and 360 nm). The data obtained for all complexes are in accord with emission being due to the initial population of a higher energy charge transfer state followed by the deactivation of an f-d excited state. The luminescence lifetimes of 1-Eu and 3-Eu recorded at the respective emission maxima following 26,670 cm -1 (375 nm) excitation were fitted satisfactorily to biexponential decay models, whereas