Post-synthetic Modification of a Two-Dimensional Metal–Organic Framework via Photodimerization Enables Highly Selective Luminescent Sensing of Aluminum(III)

Reaction of Cd(NO3)2·4H2O with 5-fluoro-1,3-bis[2-(4-pyridyl)ethenyl]benzene (5-F-1,3-bpeb) and 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid (1,3-H2BDC) under the solvothermal conditions gave rise to a two-dimensional metal-organic framework (MOF) [{Cd2(5-F-1,3-bpeb)2(1,3-BDC)2}·0.5DMF·2H2O] n (1). Compound 1 was postmodified by a photodimerization reaction between 5-F-1,3-bpeb ligands to yield [{Cd2( syn-dftpmcp)(1,3-BDC)2}·0.5DMF·H2O] n ( syn-dftpmcp = syn-3,4,12,13-tetrakis(4-pyridyl)-8,17-bisfluoro-1,2,9,10-diethano[2.2]metacyclophane) (2). Compounds 1 and 2 have 2D networks built from linking one-dimensional [Cd2(1,3-BDC)2] n chains via 5-F-1,3-bpeb or syn-dftpmcp bridges. After such a post-synthetic modification, compound 2, relative to 1, can probe Al3+ by using a luminescent quenching approach with much higher selectivity and sensitivity.