On-Off Ratiometric Fluorescence Europium(III) Metal-Organic Framework for Quantitative Detection of the Inflammatory Marker Neopterin.

Benefiting from the unique photoluminescence behavior of the lanthanide(III) ions and organic ligands, a lanthanide(III) metal-organic framework (Ln-MOF) material can simultaneously demonstrate photoluminescence of lanthanide(III) cations and organic molecules and endow its superior applications of fluorescence sensing behaviors. Herein, we present a europium(III) MOF material {[Eu2(BPTA)·(CH3COO)2·3DMA]·0.5DMA·3H2O}n (1) (where H4BPTA is 3,3',5,5'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid) for photoluminescence performance of quantitatively sensing the inflammatory marker neopterin (Neo). The obtained 1 comprises Eu2(COO)4 paddlewheel secondary building units, which could be bridged by BPTA4- ligands to extend a 2D framework. The fluorescence titration indicates 1 can achieve simultaneous fluorescence behavior of Eu3+ ions and Neo via on-off ratiometric effects and thus could be exploited as the ratiometric fluorescence sensor matrix. Such a fluorescence phenomenon of 1 as a ratiometric sensor for quantitative detection of Neo via an on-off ratiometric effect is never observed in MOF chemistry. Moreover, naked-eye visible color variations of the fluorescence for 1 could be observed from red to blue with increasing concentrations of Neo, confirmed by fluorescent test strips as well as portable fluorescent hydrogels. And 1 also shows a low detection limit of 15.11 nM. A synergetic contribution of the competitive absorption, fluorescence resonance energy-transfer, and photoinduced electron-transfer mechanisms between Neo and the framework of 1 realizes the on-off ratiometric fluorescence behavior for Neo detection, supported by the UV-vis spectral overlap experiment and DFT calculations.

Ratiometric Fluorescence Thermometry, Quantitative Gossypol Detection, and CO2 Chemical Fixation by a Multipurpose Europium (III) Metal-Organic Framework.

A lanthanide-based molecular crystalline material endows metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with many fascinating applications such as fluorescence detection and CO2 chemical fixation. Herein, we describe and study a multipurpose europium(III) MOF with the formula of {[Eu2(TATAB)2]·2.5H2O·2DMF}n (Eu-MOF) (where H3TATAB is 4,4',4″-((1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris(azanediyl))tribenzoic acid ligand) for photoluminescence sensor matrix and CO2 chemical fixation. This Eu-MOF features 1D square channels along the c direction with a pore size of ca.14.07 Å × 14.07 Å, occupied by lattice water and DMF molecules. The obtained Eu-MOF can achieve simultaneous luminescence of the H3TATAB ligand and Eu3+ ions, which can be developed as the sensor matrix for ratiometric fluorescence thermometry. The luminescence of the Eu-MOF demonstrates an obvious color change from red to yellow as temperature rises from 303 to 373 K and the Eu-MOF has a satisfying relative sensitivity of 3.21% K-1 and a small temperature uncertainty of 0.0093 K at 333 K. Moreover, sensitive detection of gossypol was achieved with a quenching constant Ksv of 1.18 × 105 M-1 and a detection limit of 4.61 µM. A combination of the competitive absorption and photoinduced electron transfer caused by host-guest interactions and strengthened π-π packing effect synergistically between gossypol molecules and the Eu-MOF skeleton realizes the "turn-off" sensing of gossypol. Importantly, the nature of the Eu-MOF allows showing CO2 chemical fixation under mild conditions. Thus, the Eu-MOF can be utilized as a multipurpose material for ratiometric fluorescence thermometry, quantitative gossypol detection, and CO2 chemical fixation.

A turn-on fluorescent Zn(II) metal-organic framework sensor for quantitative anthrax biomarker detection.

2,6-Pyridine dicarboxylic acid (DPA) is considered one of the main anthrax biomarkers, and the detection of DPA is of great significance. This work presents a Zn(II)-based metal-organic framework (MOF) with the formula {[Zn2(2,6-NBC)2(vlpy)Zn(2,6-NBC)(vlpy)0.5]·0.8(2,6-H2NBC)·H2O}n (1) assembled from 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (2,6-H2NBC) and 4,4'-vinylenedipyridine (vlpy) for a photoluminescence sensor matrix for DPA detection. 1 features a 3D pillar-layer framework with nanopore sizes of ca.13.165 Å × 12.731 Å, 12.725 Å × 11.018 Å and 13.114 Å × 13.165 Å along the three directions, occupied by lattice water and disordered 2,6-H2NBC molecules. The obtained 1 can be used as a turn-on fluorescence sensor for the detection of DPA with high selectivity, excellent sensitivity and recyclability. The luminescence of 1 demonstrates an obvious color change from blue to purplish blue as the DPA concentration rises. Furthermore, a linear correlation is presented between the fluorescence and a low DPA concentration of 0-0.3 mM, and the detection limit can reach as low as 128 nM, much lower than that of an infectious dose to a human of anthrax spores (60 µM). A fluorescence test paper is fabricated to detect DPA rapidly through color change. DFT calculations indicate the intermolecular photoinduced electron-transfer transition and hydrogen-bonding interaction between DPA molecules and the skeleton of 1 induces the "turn-on" fluorescence sensing of DPA behavior.

Two luminescent lanthanide(iii) metal-organic frameworks as chemosensors for high-efficiency recognition of Cr(vi) anions in aqueous solution.

Two new lanthanide(iii) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) {[(CH3)2NH2]2[Ln4(FDA)7(DMF)2]·0.5DMF}n [Ln = Eu (1), and Tb (2)] based on furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (H2FDA) have been successfully assembled and well characterized in detail. These MOFs are isostructural and demonstrate 12-connected sqc15 topologies, which are rarely observed in MOF chemistry, especially in lanthanide(iii) MOFs. Moreover, these two MOFs could show a tolerance towards moisture and organic solvents and satisfactory chemical stabilities. More importantly, they exhibit sensitive and selective luminescence quenching response towards Cr2O72- and CrO42- anions in aqueous solution with the average quenching Ksv values of 1.25 × 104 L mol-1 (Cr2O72-) and 3.56 × 103 L mol-1 (CrO42-) for 1 and 1.46 × 104 L mol-1 (Cr2O72-) and 4.35 × 103 L mol-1 (CrO42-) for 2 and the detection limits of 1.14 × 10-4 mol L-1 (Cr2O72-) and 1.12 × 10-4 mol L-1 (CrO42-) for 1 and 7.42 × 10-5 mol L-1 (Cr2O72-) and 1.27 × 10-4 mol L-1 (CrO42-) for 2. The high quenching Ksv values and low detection limits make them more feasible in sensing Cr(vi) anions in aqueous solution. The possible detection mechanism has been discussed in detail.

Tuning the luminescence of two 3d-4f metal-organic frameworks for the fast response and highly selective detection of aniline.

Two 3D solvent-stable zinc(ii)-lanthanide(iii) heterometallic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) {[(CH3)2NH2]2[Zn2Ln2(FDA)6(DMF)2]·2DMF}n [Ln = Eu (Zn-Eu) and Tb (Zn-Tb); H2FDA = furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid] based on Zn2Ln2(COO)10 tetrametallic clusters and furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid have been successfully synthesized. These MOFs can serve as luminescent sensors for the fast response and highly selective detection of aniline via luminescence quenching. More importantly, a linear correlation is observed between their luminescence and the low concentration of aniline and the detection limits of aniline are 7.5 µmol L-1 for Zn-Eu and 5.2 µmol L-1 for Zn-Tb.