A luminescent porous metal–organic framework with Lewis basic pyridyl sites as a fluorescent chemosensor for TNP detection

Abstract

A new 3D Tb-based metal-organic framework with the formula of [Tb(PDC)(H2O)2](NO3)(DMF)3 (1) has been successfully synthesized by the solvothermal reaction of pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid (H2PDC) with the Tb(NO3)3·6H2O in a mixture solvent of DMF and H2O. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that compound 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic C2221 space group, showing a 3D microporous framework with 1D channels running along the c-axis. On account of the strong fluorescence and high density of uncoordinated N atoms located in the channels of 1, it could be applied as a fluorescent chemosensor for TNP with high sensitivity and selectivity. In addition, the sensing mechanism has also been discussed in this work.