A porous framework based on tetrakis(4-pyridyloxymethyl)methane fine-tuned by metal ions: synthesis, crystal structures and adsorption properties

Solvothermal reactions of tetrakis(4-pyridyloxymethyl)methane (TPOM) and 4,4'-oxybisbenzoic acid (H(2)oba) with different metal ions under different synthesis temperatures produced three new coordination polymers (CPs), namely, {[Co-2(TPOM)(oba)(2)(H2O)(2)]}(n) (1), {[Zn-2(TPOM)(oba)(2)]}(n) (2) and {[Cd-2(TPOM)(oba)(2)(H2O)(2)]}(n) (3). 1 and 3 present similar topological structures which can be analyzed in two different ways. 2 exhibits a rare porous structure assembled by the tetra-pyridinate ligand TPOM. The luminescence properties of 2 and 3 as well as those of the corresponding samples immersed in different solvents have been investigated, and they suggested a potential application in luminescence sensing. In addition, the dye and iodine adsorption properties of an activated sample of 2 were also investigated. All of the results indicate that the proper selection of metal ions and auxiliary ligands plays an important role in constructing porous coordination polymers.