AbstractFour novel metal–organic frameworks constructed from benzimidazole flexible tetracarboxylic acid ligand, 1‐(3,5‐dicarboxylbenzyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole‐5,6‐dicarboxylic acid (H4L), have been prepared by a solvothermal method in the presence of N‐donor ancillary ligands (1,10‐phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline monohydrate, 4,4′‐bibp = 1,4‐di[pyridine‐4‐yl]benzene), namely, [Co2(L)(H2O)3]n (1), {[Cd2(L)(1,10‐phen)(H2O)]·2H2O}n (2), {[Co4(L)2(4,4′‐bibp)2(H2O)7]·4H2O}n (3), and {[Ni4(L)2(4,4′‐bibp)2(H2O)7]·4H2O}n (4). Complexes 1 and 2 show a 3D supramolecular structure and crystallize in monoclinic space group P21/c. Complexes 3 and 4 are isomorphous and crystallize in monoclinic space group Pn, and the respective metals exhibit a similar coordination environment. The H4L ligand behaved in different coordinated modes in Complexes 1–4, namely, μ6‐η1:η1:η1:η0:η1:η1:η1:η1:η1 in 1, μ6‐η1:η1:η1:η1:η1:η1:η2:η1:η1 in 2, there are two coordination modes (μ5‐η0:η1:η1:η0:η1:η1:η1:η0:η1 and μ5‐η1:η1:η1:η0:η1:η1:η1:η0:η1) in 3 and 4. Furthermore, photoluminescence and magnetic properties have been studied. The results indicate that Complexes 3 and 4 show strong antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic coupling through M–O–C–O–M interactions, respectively. In particular, Complex 2 can sensitively and selectively detect Fe3+ in aqueous systems, and the limit of detection (LOD) values of Fe3+ is ∼0.19 mM.
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