An unprecedented (4, 8)-connected self-penetrating Cu(I)-MOF constructed from the rare [Cu4I2]2 + cationic cluster and in situ generated tetrazole ligand

•A new 3D self-penetrating pillared-layer Cu-MOF has been described.•The complex displays the first example of (43·63)2(46·618·84) topology.•The complex consists of cationic [Cu4I2]2 + cluster and in situ generated tetrazole ligand.•The complex has good green luminescent property.

The in situ hydrothermal reaction of CuI, NaN3 and 4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzonitrile leads to a new three-dimensional pillared-layer Cu(I)-MOF, [Cu2(μ3-I)(μ5-IPT)]n (1) (HIPT = 5-[4-(imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]tetrazolate). Interestingly, the structure of 1 exhibits an unprecedented binodal (4, 8)-connected three-dimensional self-penetrating framework first constructed from [Cu4I2]2 + cationic clusters as 8-connected nodes and in situ generated IPT ligands as 4-connected nodes. Moreover, 1 is strongly luminescent with green emission (λem = 545 nm) in the solid-state.

Graphical abstractA new 3D pillared-layer metal–organic framework first formed from [Cu4I2]2 + cationic cluster and in situ generated tetrazole ligand has been synthesized and characterized, which exhibits an unprecedented (4, 8)-connected self-penetrating net with (43·63)2(46·618·84) topology. Moreover, Complex 1 is intense luminescent with green emission at room temperature.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide