Cd(II) MOFs based on cadmium/carboxylate units and 4,4′-bis(benzoimidazol-1-yl)bibenzene: syntheses, structures, and luminescence

Abstract

Solvothermal reactions of CdCl₂·2.5H₂O with 4,4′-bis(benzoimidazol-1-yl)bibenzene (bimbb) and 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (1,4-H₂bdc), 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid (4,4′-H₂bpdb), 5-methyl-1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid (5-Me-1,3-H₂bdc), or 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H₃btc) afforded four 3-D metal–organic frameworks, {[Cd₂(1,4-bdc)₂(bimbb)₂]·H₂O}_n (1), {[Cd₂(4,4′-bpdb)₂(bimbb)(H₂O)₂]} _n (2), [Cd₂(5-Me-1,3-bdc)₂(bimbb)] _n (3), and {[Cd₃(btc)₂(bimbb)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O} _n (4). Complexes 1–4 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, powder X-ray powder diffraction, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 possesses a 3-D framework with 2-D undulated (8,4) layers which are further connected by bimbb pillars. 2 forms a 3-D pillared-layer framework constructed through 2-D undulated (4,4) layers and bimbb pillars. 3 has 1-D ribbons of [Cd₄(5-Me-1,3-bdc)₄] _n which are linked by bimbb to form a 3-D structure. 4 exhibits a 3-D pillared-bilayer framework consisting of (6,3) double-decker [Cd₉(btc)₆(μ-OH₂)₆] _n layers and bimbb pillars. The Schläfli symbols for the four frameworks are (4²·6³·8)(4²·6⁵·8³) (1), (4⁴·6⁶) (2), (4⁴·6²)(4⁶·6⁴) (3), and (6³)(6¹⁰) (4). The photoluminescent properties of 1–4 were also investigated.

Keywords:

• Solvothermal reaction
• Cadmium
• Crystal structure
• Coordination polymer
• 4,4′-Bis(benzoimidazol-1-yl)bibenzene

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (20901054, 90922018 and 21171124), the Nature Science Key Basic Research of Jiangsu Province for Higher Education (09KJA150002) and the State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry of Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (201201006) for financial support. J.P.L. is also highly appreciative for the support of the Qin-Lan and the “333” Projects of Jiangsu Province, the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions. The authors also thank the helpful comments from the editor and the reviewers.