New polycatenated coordination polymers for the selective detection of folic acid

Four fluorescent coordination polymers (CPs) [Zn2(CH3-bpeb) (oba)2] (CP1), [Zn(2,5-dimethyl-bpeb)0.5(oba)] (CP2), [Zn4(F-bpeb)2(oba)4] (H2O) (CP3) and [Zn2(NH2-bpeb) (oba)2] (CP4) (H2oba = 4,4 & PRIME;-oxydibenzoic acid; bpeb = 1,4-bis[(2-(pyridine-4-yl)vinyl)benzene]) were synthesized under solvothermal conditions. The V shaped H2oba ligand was used for constructing of a ring motif and the linear N-donor ligands (CH3-bpeb, 2,5-dimethyl-bpeb, F-bpeb, NH2-bpeb) served as interpenetrating columns. CP1-CP4 fluoresced strongly in the solid state and stable suspensions of micron-level particles could be obtained by ultrasound. The fluorescences of these aqueous suspensions of CP1-CP4 were quenched by folic acid (FA) in a concentration-dependent manner. CP test papers could effectively detect FA at micromolar concentrations.

Automated summary

Four fluorescent coordination polymers were synthesized and successfully used to detect folic acid through concentration-dependent fluorescence quenching.