Synthesis, structure and photoluminescence of two porous metal-organoboron frameworks with rtl topology

Rigid trigonal tris(3-pyridylduryl)borane L was synthesized through four steps in good overall yield from readily available 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene and was used to construct two porous cadmium (II) complexes Cd(L)X-2 center dot G (X = Cl, Br; G = guset molecules), 1 (Cd(L)Cl-2 center dot EtOH center dot(PrOH)-Pr-i center dot 3H(2)O) and 2 (Cd(L)Br-2 center dot MeOH center dot C7H8 center dot 3H(2)O), under mild reaction conditions. 1 and 2 are isostructural and featured with 3D porous metal-organoboron framewoks with rtl topology, in which L acts as a 3-connected node while a dicadmium motif serves as 6-connected node. In addition, 1 and 2 exhibit strong photoluminescence in the visible region and 1 shows moderate adsorption ability of carbon dioxide at 273 K.