Controllable Self-Assembly of Two Luminescent Silver(I) Metal–Organic Frameworks Bearing a Tetradentate Ligand

Abstract

Luminescent metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are appealing. In this regard, the dye molecule 1,2,4,5-tetra(4-pyridyl)benzene (bztpy), a tetradentate ligand, can be rationally incorporated for the modulation of structures and photochemical properties as a building unit. By reacting bztpy and K[Ag(CN)2] in the presence of CuCl in a solution of NH3·H2O/EtOH at room temperature, we managed to synthesize two novel MOFs exhibiting good luminescent behavior. In the reaction, CuCl was proven to be important as a catalyst, which enables the reactant to generate reactive intermediate [Ag(NH3)2]Cl with the help of ammonia. Thus, Ag+ ions released from intermediate promote the formation of products 1 and 2. Transformation between two compounds can be realized by simple operations. Topology studies reveal that 1 belongs to a 4-fold interpenetrating “moganite” net, but for 2 a new-found (3,4)-connected net occurred with a Schlafli symbol of {62.104}{62.10}2. Photoluminescent behaviors of solid 1 and 2 exhibit intense em...