Effects of template molecules on the structures and luminescence intensities of a series of porous Tb-MOFs based on the 2-nitroterephthalate ligand

Four novel porous Tb(iii) metal–organic frameworks (Tb-MOFs) have been designed and prepared hydrothermally from 2-nitroterephthalate (2-H(2)ntp), namely {[Tb(2-ntp)(1.5)(H(2)O)]·H(2)O}(n) (1), {[Tb(2-ntp)(2)(H(2)O)]·4,4′-Hbipy}(n) (2), {[Tb(2-ntp)(2)(H(2)O)]·2,4-Hbipy}(n) (3), and {[Tb(2-ntp)(2)(H(2)O)]·(1,4-H(2)bbi)(0.5)}(n) (4) (4,4′-bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine; 2,4-bipy = 2,4-bipyridine; 1,4-bbi = 1,4-bisbenzimidazole). X-ray diffraction structural analyses show these Tb-MOFs are porous and are based on Tb(3+) ions and 2-nitroterephthalate, in which water molecules (1) or protonated N-donor ligands (2–4) exist as templates. The fluorescence properties of complexes 1–4 could be associated with the characteristic peaks of Tb(iii) ions, and the existence of different guest molecules affects the intensities of peaks, which means that these could be potential fluorescence materials, with intensities adjusted using guests.