Highly selective functional luminescent sensor toward Cr(VI)/Fe(III) ion and nitrobenzene based on metal–organic frameworks: Synthesis, structures, and properties

Six functional metal-organic frameworks constructed from semi-flexible 4,4′-bis(imidazolyl)diphenyl ether (bidpe), namely: [Zn(bidpe)(mpa)]n (1), [Cu(bidpe)(mpa)(H2O)]n (2), [Cd(bidpe)(mpa)]n (3), [Zn1.5(bidpe)2(smpa)(H2O)]n (4), [Cu1.5(bidpe)2(smpa)(H2O)]n (5), [Cd(bidpe)(hmpa)]n (6) (H2mpa = m-Phthalic acid, H2smpa = 5-sulfonatobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylate, H2hmpa = 5-Hydroxyisophthalic acid), have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that complexes 1–4 and 6 show 2D→3D supramolecular structure with a Schlafli symbol of (44·62), (4·65), (44·62), (42·6) and (63) topology, respectively. Complex 5 possesses an unprecedented (3, 4, 6)-connected 3D framework with a Schlafli symbol of (4·64·8)2(42·64·89)(62·8)2. Meanwhile, complexes 1, 3, 4 and 6 have excellent fluorescence properties and can be used as potential luminescent sensors for sensing Cr(VI) anions, Fe(III) ions and nitrobenzene (NB) with high selectivity and sensitivity. The photocatalytic studies indicate that 1 has good photocatalytic capability in degradation of methylene blue (MB), 1 and 6 have good photocatalytic capability in degradation of methyl violet (MV). Furthermore, the possible sensing mechanism and photocatalytic mechanism have been discussed.