Luminescent Zn (II) coordination polymers for highly selective detection of triethylamine, nitrobenzene and tetracycline in water systems

Two novel coordination polymers (CPs), formulated as {[Zn-3(L)(1.5)(DMF)(3)]center dot C2H7N}(n) (1), and [Zn (L)(0.5)(bpb)(0.5)(H2O)(2)](n) (2), (H4L = 1, 1'-ethylbiphenyl -3, 3', 5, 5'- tetracarboxylic acid, bpb = 1, 4-di(pyridin-4-yl) benzene), have been acquired under hydrothermal conditions. Complexes 1 and 2 display excellent luminescence characteristics and stability in antibiotics and organic solvents. Complex 1 can detect triethylamine (TEA) and tetracycline (TET) in water by fluorescence quenching. The detection limits of 1 towards TEA and TET are 1.07 mu M and 0.1 mu M, respectively. Complex 2 can be used as a luminescence sensor to detect nitrobenzene (NB) and the detection limit towards NB is 0.2 mu M. Moreover, complexes 1 and 2 perform excellent reproducibility, because the changes of fluorescence intensity are negligible after four cycles. The mechanism of the fluorescence quenching is discussed in detail.

Automated summary

Two novel coordination polymers have been synthesized, which exhibit excellent luminescence characteristics and stability. They can be used for the detection of triethylamine, tetracycline, and nitrobenzene through fluorescence quenching. Furthermore, these polymers show excellent reproducibility.