Luminescent Li-based metal-organic framework tailored for the selective detection of explosive nitroaromatic compounds: direct observation of interaction sites.

Tae Kyung Kim, Jae Hwa Lee, Dohyun Moon, Hoi Ri Moon

Index: Inorg. Chem. 52(2) , 589-95, (2013)

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Abstract

A luminescent lithium metal-organic framework (MOF) is constructed from the solvothermal reaction of Li(+) and a well-designed organic ligand, bis(4-carboxyphenyl)-N-methylamine (H(2)CPMA). A Li-based MOF can detect an explosive aromatic compound containing nitro groups as an explosophore, by showing a dramatic color change with concurrent luminescence quenching in the solid state. The detection sites are proven directly through single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations, which show strong interactions between the aromatic rings of the electron-rich CPMA(2-) molecules and the electron-deficient nitrobenzene.