LAUSR

Abstract A new metal-organic framework (MOF), {[Zn3(btc)2(bimb)2(H2O)2](H2O)3}n (1), where H3btc =1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate and bimb = 4,4′-bis(1-imidazolyl)biphenyl, has been synthesized and characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, elemental, thermogravimetric, and photoluminescent analysis. X-ray diffraction crystallographic analyses indicate that 1 displays two types of Zn centers with a distorted pyramidal and a perfectly octahedral coordination sphere. The fully deprotonated btc3− ligand coordinates four Zn ions with two carboxylate groups having bidentate chelate modes and one binds µ2-η1:η1; bimb serves as a μ2-bridging ligand in 1, resulting in a new three-dimensional (3-D) metal-organic framework with an uncommon trinodal 4-connected network with a Schäfli symbol of (65 10)2(62 8 103)3(73 8 12) topology. In the crystal, a 3-D supramolecular architecture is further formed by O–H···O hydrogen bonds, C–H···O interactions, C–H···π as well as π···π stacking. 1 shows intense fluorescence in the solid state and exhibits high selectivity for Mn2+ and Fe3+ ions through fluorescence enhancement and the quenching effect in aqueous solutions at room temperature, respectively. Graphical Abstract