A multi-responsive luminescent sensor for organic small-molecule pollutants and metal ions based on a 4d-4f metal-organic framework.

Two silver(i)-lanthanide(iii) heterometallic-organic frameworks (HMOFs) {[Ln3 Ag3 (BPDC)5 (OX)(H2 O)7 ]·7H2 O}n (Ln = Tb (1), Gd (2)) have been synthesized via a mixed ligand approach using 2,2'-bipyridine-3,3'-dicarboxylic acid (H2 BPDC) and oxalic acid (H2 OX) under hydrothermal conditions. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies showed a (3,4,5)-connected new topology of {3·42 ·5·62 }{3·43 ·52 ·63 ·7}{3·5·62 ·9·10}{42 ·5·63 }{42 ·5}{42 ·6}{43 ·5·62 }{43 ·63 }{43 ·64 ·82 ·10}. Luminescence studies showed that the characteristic emissions of Tb3+ ions are observed in HMOF 1 which can be capable of sensing organic small-molecule pollutants and metal ions. In addition, it can also discriminate the isomers of pentanol as well as quantitatively distinguish benzendiamines which are carcinogenic but used for hair coloring.