Synthesis and structural depiction of two new metal−organic frameworks ( M O F s ) , n a m e l y , [ { Z n ( L ) ( o b a ) }and 5-H 2 nipa = 5-nitroisophthalic acid) are reported. Both Zn-MOF-1 and Cd-MOF-2 have been prepared by reacting ligand L and coligand 4,4′-H 2 oba or 5-H 2 nipa with the respective dihydrates of Zn(OAc) 2 and Cd(OAc) 2 (OAc = acetate). Crystal structure Xray analysis discloses that Zn-MOF-1 displays an overall 2D → 3D interpenetrated framework structure. The topological analysis by ToposPro suggests a (4)-connected uninodal sql topology with a point symbol of {4 4 •6 2 } having 2D + 2D parallel polycatenation. However, crystal packing of Cd-MOF-2 adapted a porous framework architecture and was topologically simplified as (3,4)-connected binodal 2D net. In addition, both Zn-MOF-1 and Cd-MOF-2 were proved to be multifunctional materials for the recognition of organic amines and in the fixation of CO 2 to cyclic carbonates. Remarkably, Zn-MOF-1 and Cd-MOF-2 showed very good fluorescence stability in aqueous media and have shown 98 and 97% quenching efficiencies, respectively, for 4aminobenzoic acid (4-ABA), among all of the researched amines. The mechanistic study of organic amines recognition proposed that fluorescence quenching happened mainly through hydrogen-bonding and π−π stacking interactions. Additionally, cycloaddition of CO 2 to epoxide in the presence of Zn-MOF-1 and Cd-MOF-2 afforded up to 96% of cyclic carbonate within 24 h. Both Zn-MOF-1 and Cd-MOF-2 exhibited recyclability for up to five cycles without noticing an appreciable loss in their sensing or catalytic efficiency.