A novel metal–organic framework [Cd3(TPT)2(DMF)2]·(H2O)0.5 (1) has been solvothermally synthesized using a new rigid unsymmetrical tricarboxylate ligand p-terphenyl-3,4′′,5-tricarboxylic acid (H3TPT). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that 1 possesses a three-dimensional (3D) framework with an alb-4,8-C2/c topology constructed by the combination of Cd–carboxylate chains and TPT linkers. The π-electron rich ligand H3TPT enables 1 to have an excellent luminescent property. The micrometer-sized compound 1′ dispersed in ethanol exhibits high efficiency detection for picric acid (PA). The high efficiency, stability and recyclability of 1′ make it a potential chemosensor for nitroaromatic explosives.

A novel metal–organic framework [Cd3(TPT)2(DMF)2]·(H2O)0.5 (1) has been solvothermally synthesized using a new rigid unsymmetrical tricarboxylate ligand p-terphenyl-3,4′′,5-tricarboxylic acid (H3TPT). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that 1 possesses a three-dimensional (3D) framework with an alb-4,8-C2/c topology constructed by the combination of Cd–carboxylate chains and TPT linkers. The π-electron rich ligand H3TPT enables 1 to have an excellent luminescent property. The micrometer-sized compound 1′ dispersed in ethanol exhibits high efficiency detection for picric acid (PA). The high efficiency, stability and recyclability of 1′ make it a potential chemosensor for nitroaromatic explosives.

In this work a rigid asymmetrical tricarboxylate ligand p-terphenyl-3,4″,5-tricarboxylic acid (H3L) has been employed, and a unique heterometallic alkaline earth–lanthanide microporous luminescent metal–organic framework (MOF) {[Ba3La0.5(μ3-L)2.5(H2O)3(DMF)]·(3DMF)}n (1·3DMF) (DMF = dimethylformamide) has been isolated under solvothermal conditions. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis demonstrates that 2D inorganic Ba–O–La connectivity can be observed in 1, which are further bridged via rigid terphenyl backbones of L3–, forming a unique I2O1-type microporous luminescent framework. A 1D microporous channel with dimensionality of 9.151(3) Å × 10.098(1) Å can be observed along the crystallographic a axis. PXRD patterns have been investigated indicating pure phases of 1. The luminescence explorations demonstrated that 1 exhibits highly selective and sensitive sensing for Al3+ over other cations with high quenching efficiency Ksv value of 1.445 × 104 L·mol–1 and low detection limit (1.11 μM (S/N = 3)). Meanwhile 1 also exhibits highly selective and sensitive sensing for MnO4– over other anions with quenching efficiency Ksv = 7.73 × 103 L·mol–1 and low detection limit (0.28 μM (S/N = 3)). It is noted that, when different concentrations of MnO4– solutions (0.5 to 100 μM) were dropped into the suspension of 1, the bright blue luminescence of the suspension observed under UV light can gradually change into pink color, indicating visually luminescent sensing, which makes the detection process of MnO4– more convenient in practical. The result also reveals that 1 represents the first example of bifunctional heterometallic alkaline earth-lanthanide MOF-based luminescent probes for selectively detecting Al3+ and MnO4– in the water solutions.

We propose and validate a simple strategy of vertex connection that can be used for framework design and pore size/type modulation to prepare a mother structure and another 10 highly porous isoreticular frameworks with unprecedented topology. Importantly, the potential accessible pore volumes (57–71%), pore sizes (6.8–11. 2 Å; 17.0–29.0 Å; 12.5–22.8 Å; 11.9–24.5 Å), and the pore shapes of this series of highly porous frameworks were simultaneously and systematically tuned. Interestingly, the pore size of IIa [Zn4O(L2)2(BDC)0.5]{(CH3)2NH2} decreased a little less than that of IIc [Zn4O(L2)2(2,6-NDC)0.5]{(CH3)2NH2}; however, its selectivity of CO2 toward CH4 increased by almost two times.