A "turn off" sensor for highly sensitive and selective detection of syringaldehyde typed aromatic aldehydes based on an amino-functionalized metal-organic framework

Aromatic aldehydes are important chemical raw materials with serious harm to human health and environment. Sensitive, selective and rapid detection of these compounds is of great significance. However the facile fluorescence detection of aromatic aldehydes in aqueous solution is still challenging. Herein, the solvothermal synthesis of a NH2-BDC-Tb-MOF using Tb3+ ion and 2-aminoterephthalic acid (NH2-BDC) ligand was reported. This MOF can be used as a rapid response fluorescence sensor for highly sensitive, selective and rapid detection of syringaldehyde typed aromatic aldehydes in aqueous solution. The limit of detection can reach 0.69 & mu;M, which was comparable with most of the reported fluorescence sensors for aromatic aldehydes. The selective detecting mechanism towards syringaldehyde typed aromatic aldehydes was also discussed in the paper.