A 3D europium-organic-framework from phenyl imidazole dicarboxylate showing high sensitivity in detection of nitrobenzene

A Eu-based luminescent MOF, namely, {[Eu(µ3-HPhIDC)(µ2-C2O4)0.5(H2O)] · 2H2O} n (I) (H3PhIDC = 2-phenyl-1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid) has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques (CIF file CCDC no. 1457365). The MOF I indicates characteristic sharp emission bands of Eu3+ ion, which is selectively sensitive to nitrobenzene- based derivatives (nitrobenzene, 2-nitrotoluene, 3-nitrotoluene, 1,3-dinitrobenzene and 2,4-dinitrotoluene). These properties make I a potential fluorescence sensor for these chemicals.