A luminescent cadmium metal–organic framework for sensing of nitroaromatic explosives

A novel metal–organic framework [Cd3(TPT)2(DMF)2]·(H2O)0.5 (1) has been solvothermally synthesized using a new rigid unsymmetrical tricarboxylate ligand p-terphenyl-3,4′′,5-tricarboxylic acid (H3TPT). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that 1 possesses a three-dimensional (3D) framework with an alb-4,8-C2/c topology constructed by the combination of Cd–carboxylate chains and TPT linkers. The π-electron rich ligand H3TPT enables 1 to have an excellent luminescent property. The micrometer-sized compound 1′ dispersed in ethanol exhibits high efficiency detection for picric acid (PA). The high efficiency, stability and recyclability of 1′ make it a potential chemosensor for nitroaromatic explosives.