The detection of explosive materials holds significant importance due to their profound impact on various aspects such as environmental and biological systems, homeland security, and forensic investigations. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and coordination polymers (CPs) have emerged as promising candidates for the selective and sensitive detection of small molecules. In this study, we synthesized a novel oxydiacetic acid functionalized strontium (II) coordination polymer, termed SDGA, using a cost-effective method known as the gel diffusion technique. The crystal structure, characterization, thermal stability, and photoluminescence properties of SDGA were thoroughly investigated by using single crystal X-ray diffraction, FTIR, UV–visible, TG/DTG, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results revealed that SDGA crystallizes in a monoclinic crystal system with the P21/c space group. SDGA exhibits an emission peak at 340 nm under an excitation wavelength of 301 nm, attributed to the inter-ligand n-π* transition. Leveraging this photoluminescence behaviour, sensing experiments were conducted to detect nitrobenzene and p-nitrophenol within a concentration range of 0-10−20 M. The results indicate a decrease in fluorescence intensity with increasing concentrations of nitrobenzene and p-nitrophenol, indicative of a ‘turn-off’ mechanism.