Selective fluorescence sensors and photocatalysis of four new luminescent coordination complexes

Four new complexes, [Cd(ox)0.5(nim)(2,2'-bipy)]n (1), [Cd(nim)2]n (2), [Cd(nim)2(H2O)2]n (3), and [Zn(nim)2(H2O)2∙H2O] (4) (Hnim = 4-nitroimidazolate, H2ox = oxalic acid and 2,2'-bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) have been prepared. 1-3 exhibit 2D grid networks, while complex 4 shows mononuclear structure. Sensing measurements revealed that 1 and 4 could be a prospective candidate for developing luminescence sensors, which showed significant and exclusive detection ability for the different organic solvents and nitro explosives. It exhibits high sensitivity for 4-nitrotoluene (4-NT) in the presence of other nitro aromatic compounds in DMF by luminescence quenching experiments. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activities of 1-4 were also discussed, in which exhibit efficient catalytic activity for the degradation of methylene violet (MV).178