A stable Zinc(II) metal-organic framework in water for the detection of tetracycline

A Zinc(II) metal-organic framework (Zn-MOF), namely [Zn(H2L)(4,4 '-bpy)](n) (1), where H4L=1,1 '-ethylbiphenyl-3,3 ', 5,5 '-tetracarboxylic acid, 4,4 '-bpy=4,4 '-bipyridine, was successfully synthesized under solvothermal conditions. The structure was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The single crystal structure analysis shows that 1 belongs to the monoclinic C2/c space group and H2L2- ligands adopt monodentate coordination mode, connecting with Zn (II) to form 1D chains. Finally, the 1D chains are connected by 4,4 '-bpy to form a 2D wavelike network. 1 shows good stability in water, and can be used as a highly sensitive and selective fluorescent probe to detect tetracycline (TET) with a detection limit of 0.17 mu mol center dot L-1. 1 can be successfully used for the determination of tetracycline in Yanhe River water. In addition, the possible fluorescence quenching mechanisms of 1 were also studied.