Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Blue Photoluminescence of a Metal-organic Framework Constructed from Triangular [Zn3(μ3-OH)] Clusters with Bis(tetrazole)amine Ligands

A new metal-organic framework, {Zn[Zn-3(BTA)(3)(mu(3)-OH)(H2O)(3)](2)}(n) 1, has been synthesized under hydrothermal reaction of ZnCl2 and bis(5-tetrazolyl)amine (H(2)BTA), and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, Raman spectrum, X-ray single-crystal diffraction, TGA and photoluminescence measurements. Compound I crystallizes in the trigonal system, space group P-3c1, a = 13.667(3), c = 12.981(3) angstrom, V = 2099.6(8) angstrom(3) and Z = 2. The BTA(2-) ligand in 1 assumes the mu(3) tetradentate mode with both 1,2- and 1,4-tetrazole bridges, generating an unusual 2-D layer, in which the [Zn-3(mu(3)-OH)] triangular motifs act as three-connecting nodes and the mononuclear Zn atoms as six-connecting nodes that are inter-linked by organic ligands. Adjacent 2-D metal-organic layers are linked by strong hydrogen bonds to form a novel 3-D supramolecular framework. Complex 1 exhibits blue fluorescence emission in the solid state at ambient temperature.