Amino decorated adenine based metal–organic framework for multi-faceted applications

Multifunctional metal-organic frameworks with luminescence properties are promising materials for the detection and treatment of toxic pollutants in aqueous media. Herein, an adenine-based multifunctional Zn-MOF {[Zn3.5(AIPA)2(Ade)3(H2O)2]n using linkers adenine (Ade) and 5-aminoisophthalic acid (AIPA)} was prepared that could selectively detect particular classes of explosives and antibiotics, namely, nitrophenols, tetracyclines and nitrofurans. Moreover, the as-synthesized Zn-MOF displayed a remarkable efficiency for the treatment of antibiotics in water through adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. A subtle balance between photoinduced electron transfer (PET), resonance energy transfer (RET) and competitive excitation energy absorption enabled detection selectivity towards the pollutants. On the other hand, intermolecular interactions of free functional groups assisted the treatment process and thereby highlighted the crucial role of the linkers in furnishing multifunctional behavior without the need for any postsynthetic modifications.