A luminescent cadmium metal-organic framework for sensing of nitroaromatic explosives

A novel metal-organic framework [Cd-3(TPT)(2)(DMF)(2)]center dot(H2O)(0.5) (1) has been solvothermally synthesized using a new rigid unsymmetrical tricarboxylate ligand p-terphenyl-3,4 '', 5-tricarboxylic acid (H3TPT). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that 1 possesses a three-dimensional (3D) framework with an alb-4,8-C2/c topology constructed by the combination of Cd-carboxylate chains and TPT linkers. The pi-electron rich ligand H3TPT enables 1 to have an excellent luminescent property. The micrometer-sized compound 1' dispersed in ethanol exhibits high efficiency detection for picric acid (PA). The high efficiency, stability and recyclability of 1' make it a potential chemosensor for nitroaromatic explosives.