Lanthanide coordination polymer constructed from 2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid: Structure, catalysis and fluorescence

•Two new isostructural lanthanide coordination polymers (Ln-CPs) with two kinds of one-dimensional channels were prepared.•Ln-CP 1 shows good catalytic reactivity and selectivity for the Strecker reaction.•Ln-CP 1 exhibits sensitive fluorescent response to Cu2+ in DMF solution.

Two new isostructural lanthanide coordination polymers (Ln-CPs) [Ln2(bpdc)3(DMF)2] (Ln = Tb for 1, Eu for 2) with two kinds of one-dimensional channels along the a axis, were synthesized by 2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid (H2bpdc) under solvothermal conditions. With exposed Lewis acid Ln3+ centers, 1 as a heterogeneous catalyst shows good catalytic reactivity and selectivity for the Strecker reaction affording medium to excellent conversion yields. Luminescent studies illustrate that 1 and 2 show intensive green and red luminescence triggered by efficient antenna effect of ligands under UV light, respectively. Moreover, 1 exhibits sensitive fluorescent response to Cu2+ in DMF solution.

Graphical abstractFor 3D isostructural LnCPs [Ln2(bpdc)3(DMF)2] (Ln = Tb for 1, Eu for 2), 1 as a heterogeneous catalyst shows good catalytic reactivity and selectivity for the Strecker reaction affording medium to excellent conversion yields. In addition, 1 exhibits sensitive fluorescent response to Cu2+ in DMF solution.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide