A novel lanthanide-organic framework (Eu-HODA), consisting of 2,2',3,3'-oxidiphthalic acids as efficient sensitizing units, is assembled and characterized. Eu-HODA features rare chiral helical channels despite the achiral nature of HODA. It is found that this MOF shows a unique luminescent response to methanol, in contrast to n-propanol and ethanol. Eu-HODA reveals a turn-off luminescence switching initiated by acetone molecules with an EC of 0.03 vol %, which is below the occupational exposure limit of acetone stipulated by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Furthermore, it also exhibits high sensitivity (Stern-Volmer constant K = 2.09 × 10 L/mol) and low detection limit (6.4 ppb) for Fe ions in pure water because of the existence of uncoordinated carboxyl groups within open frameworks. Eu-HODA-based test paper provides a simple and reliable detection method for Fe in practical applications.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), composed of metal ions/clusters and organic ligands and possessing inherent crystallinity, a definite structure, a tunable pore, and multiple functionalizations, have shown potential for numerous applications. Recently,...

A MOF with amino and Brønsted acid sites, exhibiting bifunctional luminescent turn-on sensing properties for the detection of Al3+and Lys.

Three lanthanide-based metal–organic frameworks, [Tb­(HMDIA)­(H2O)3]·H2O (Tb-MDIA), [Ho­(HMDIA)­(H2O)3]·(H2O)2 (Ho-MDIA), and [Nd­(HMDIA)­(H2O)3]·(H2O)2 (Nd-MDIA) from the same V-shaped ligand 5,5′-methylenediisophthalic acid (H4MDIA), were prepared by mixing Ln3+ and H4MDIA under solvothermal conditions. The crystal structures of the three complexes were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The different coordination modes of the organic ligands resulted in different framework structures among the three complexes. The luminescent properties of Ln-MDIA in the ultraviolet–visible region were also studied. Interestingly, the bright-green emitter Tb-MDIA showed high selectivity and sensitivity to allow the naked-eye visualization of Fe3+ ions and picric acid (PA) explosive, and both sensing mechanisms were revealed. Finally, Ho-MDIA and Nd-MDIA were shown to work as heterogeneous catalysts for the cyanosilylation reaction of aromatic aldehydes, and the catalysts could be recycled at least three times without any decrease in activity.