Mixed ligand two dimensional Cd(II)/Ni(II) metal organic frameworks containing dicarboxylate and tripodal N-donor ligands: Cd(II) MOF is an efficient luminescent sensor for detection of picric acid in aqueous media

Two dimensional metal organic frameworks (MOFs) [Cd(5-BrIP)(TIB)](n) (1) and [Ni-2(5-BrIP)(2)(TIB)(2)](n) (2), involving the aromatic polycarboxylate ligand 5-bromo isophthalic acid (H2BrIP), flexible tripodal ligand 1,3,5-tris(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (TIB) and Cd(II)/Ni(II) metal nodes have been synthesized by different methods. These compounds were characterized by various analytical methods, and variable temperature X-ray diffraction data showed thermal stability of both MOFs up to 350 degrees C. Phase purity as well as water stability of the MOFs were established by powder X-ray diffraction, and the structural diversity of the compounds were investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both the MOFs are mixed ligand 2D nets, and the topology of the network can be described as a binodal 3,5-c connected net with 3,5L2 topology having the point symbol {4(2).6(7).8}{4(2).6}. Sensing of picric acid [2,4,6-trinitrophenol, TNP] by luminescence quenching among a large range of nitroanalytes in aqueous phase by the Cd(II) luminescent MOF (LMOF) were been investigated. Structural studies on 1 : 1 co-crystals (CC1) of TIB and TNP were carried out. The selective and sensitive fluorescence quenching response of 1 towards electron-deficient TNP over other nitro analytes in aqueous phase was demonstrated by fluorescence quenching titration. Concomitant occurrence of electron transfer/energy transfer processes and electrostatic interaction favours the selective sensing of TNP. A Cd(II) LMOF (1)-coated paper strip that we developed demonstrated fast and selective response to TNP, by the complete quenching of the blue fluorescence upon excitation of the paper strip at 365 nm radiation in its presence.