A Highly Symmetric Metal-Organic Framework Based on a Propeller-Like Ru-Organic Metalloligand for Photocatalysis and Explosives Detection

Ru(H(2)dcbpy)(3)(2+), one of the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) (dcbpy = 2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) derivatves, has been used as a propeller-like photoactive metalloligand to coordinate with indium(III) ions to form a highly symmetric metal-organic framework [InRu(dcbpy)(3)]-[(CH3)(2)NH2]center dot 6H(2)O (1), and the cubic microcrystals of 1 have been acquired through modified procedures. Compound 1 manifests broad visible light absorption band and strong red light emission with long decay lifetime, both of which are originated from the metal-to-ligand charge transfer of the Ru(dcbpy)(3)(4-) metalloligands. Because of the highly light-harvesting and strong redox nature of the Ru(dcbpy)(3)(2+) units in 1, its photocatalysis activities were determined by visible light-induced photodegradation of methyl orange experiments. The results indicate that 1 can be a stable and good visible-light driving heterogeneous photocatalyst. Meanwhile, the sensing properties of 1 were also evaluated, and the result shows that 1 can selectively detect the nitro explosives molecules.