Structures and fluorescence properties of two novel metal-organic frameworks based on the bis(2-benzimidazole) and aromatic carboxylate ligands

Abstract Two new metal-organic frameworks, [Cd 2 (H 2 C 3 PIm)(BDC) 4 (H 2 O) 3 ] n ( 1 ) and [Zn 3 (H 2 C 3 PIm) 3 (BTC) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] n ( 2 ) (H 2 C 3 PIm = 2,2′-(1,3-propanediyl)bis(1 H-benzimidazole), H 2 BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H 3 BTC = 1,3,5-benzene tricarboxylic acid), have been synthesized hydrothermally and their structures are characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. Compound 1 presents a 1D columnar structure, and compound 2 exhibits a 2D sheet with novel extra-large rings of 4.8 2 topology. Both complexes exhibit strong photoluminescence at room temperature.