Abstract
In this work, two MOFs, {[Cd3(L)2(m-BDC)(NO3)4]·2(H2O)}n (1) and [Zn3(L)(m-BDC)3]n (2), were synthesized using the hydrothermal method. Single crystal diffraction showed that the flexible tripod ligand L (1,3,5-[1-(2-methylimidazole-methylene)]benzene) delivers completely different configurations under the influence of the coordination metal [Cd(II), Zn(II)] ions, resulting in two completely different structures. In 1, the flexible tripod ligand L adopted a "chair" conformation which combined with Cd(II) ions, forming a two-dimensional structure in the orthorhombic C2221 space group. In 2, L adopted a "bowl" conformation which combined with Zn(II) ions, forming another two-dimensional structure in the P-3m1 space group. The synthesized MOFs were characterized by PXRD, thermogravimetry (TGA), infrared spectroscopy (IR), elemental analysis, fluorescence property analysis, Hirshfeld surface analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) quantitative calculations. The fluorescence analysis displayed that the maximum emission wavelength of 1 and 2 has a blue shift. In addition, the results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the thermal stability of 1 is 150 °C higher than that of 2. This is probably because the energy of "chair" conformation is lower than that of the "bowl" conformation, which makes 1 more stable than that of 2.
Graphical Abstract
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.