Effects of Extending the π‑Electron System of Pillaring Linkers on Fluorescence Sensing of Aromatic Compounds in Two Isoreticular Metal–Organic Frameworks

A new porous metal–organic
framework (TMU-21) that is isostructural to our recently reported
TMU-6 is introduced. The structure of this framework has been determined
by X-ray crystallography and further characterized by Fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis.
Its structural features as well as its stability and porosity were
studied. These two metal–organic frameworks are interesting
candidates for a comparative fluorescence study. Thus, their potential
abilities to sense nitrobenzene, benzene, and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons, namely, naphthalene, anthracene, and pyrene, were investigated.
This study clearly shows an important contribution of extending the π-electron
systems of pillaring linkers in the ability of metal–organic
frameworks to sense aromatic compounds.