Luminescent sensing for amino acids with a Cd-MOF based on 4'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid

One luminescent Cd2+ coordination polymer, {[Cd(tbca)(H2O)]}n (1) (Htbca = 4'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid), has been synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. Structural analysis revealed that 1 was a 3D framework with a 3,6-connected rtl topology. Fluorescence titration experiments demonstrated that 1 was an excellent multi-functional probe for metal ions and amino acids.