A Luminescent Zinc(II) Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) with Conjugated π‑Electron Ligand for High Iodine Capture and Nitro-Explosive Detection

A porous luminescent zinc­(II) metal–organic
framework (MOF) with a NbO net [Zn2(tptc)­(apy)2–x(H2O)x]·H2O (1) (where x ≈ 1, apy
= aminopyridine, H4tptc = terphenyl-3,3″,5,5″-tetracarboxylic
acid), constructed using paddlewheel [Zn2(COO)4] clusters and π-electron-rich terphenyl-tetracarboxylic acid,
has been solvothermally synthesized and characterized. Interestingly,
the material displays efficient, reversible adsorption of radioactive
I2 in vapor and in solution (up to 216 wt %). The
strong affinity for I2 is mainly due to it having large
porosity, a conjugated π-electron aromatic system, halogen bonds,
and electron-donating aminos. Furthermore, luminescent study indicated
that 1 exhibits high sensitivity to electron-deficient
nitrobenzene explosives via fluorescence quenching.