Cd(II)-coordination framework: synthesis, anion-induced structural transformation, anion-responsive luminescence, and anion separation.

A series of Cd(II) coordination frameworks that are constructed from a new oxadiazole-bridged ligand 3,5-bis(3-pyridyl-3-(3'-methylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (L) and CdX2 (X = NO3(-), Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), N3(-), and SCN(-)) were synthesized. The NO3(-) anion of the solid CdL2(NO3)2·2THF (1) is able to be quantitatively exchanged with Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), SCN(-), and N3(-) in the solid state. For Cl(-) and Br(-), the anion exchange resulted in a anion-induced structural transformation to form the structures of 2 and 3, respectively. In addition, the Cd(II) structure herein exhibits the anion-responsive photoluminescence, which could be a useful method to monitor the anion-exchange process. Notably, compound 1 can recognize and completely separate SCN(-)/N3(-) with similar geometry.