Crystal Structures and Luminescent Probe Behaviors of Three-Dimensional Zn(II) Frameworks with Multicarboxylate and Tetradentate Imidazole-Containing Ligands

Three novel metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) [Zn 2 (tipe)(bpt)(H 2 bpt)]·MeOH·9H 2 O ( 1 ), [Zn 2 (tipe)(tpe)]·3MeOH·13H 2 O ( 2 ), and [Zn 2 (tipe) 1.5 (AIP)](NO 3 ) 2 ·7DMA·7H 2 O ( 3 ) (DMA = N, N -dimethylacetamide, MeOH = methanol) were synthesized by reactions of zinc(II) salt with organic ligands of 1,1,2,2-tetrakis(4-(imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)ethene (tipe) and biphenyl-3,4′,5-tricarboxylic acid (H 3 bpt), tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)ethene (H 4 tpe), or 5-aminoisophthalic acid (H 2 AIP). Crystal structural determination revealed that they are distinct three-dimensional (3D) frameworks with varied porous structures and topologies. Interestingly, MOFs 1 and 2 show strong luminescence in ethanol and DMF suspension and can be used as chemical sensors for detecting antibiotics and nitroaromatic compounds, respectively. In addition, MOF 3 can emit white light by encapsulating organic dye molecules into the voids of the framework.