Emissive lead(II) benzenedicarboxylate metal-organic frameworks

Two known Pb(II) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), pseudo-supramolecular isomeric pairs synthesized namely, [Pb $$_{3}$$ (BDC) $$_{3}$$ (DMF) $$_{3.5}$$ ] (1) and [Pb(BDC)(H $$_{2}$$ O)] (2) (where BDC $$=$$ benzenedicarboxylate) were synthesized and reexamined their structures to determine the topology of the networks. In that 1 displayed a 3D (10,3)-b linked network with having the ths topology whereas 2 shows a (6,3) 2D layers interconnected to a 3D framework structure. Remarkably, the desolvation of both 1 and 2 cause structural transformation to a known 3D network structure of [Pb(BDC)] $$_n$$ (3) as established by X-ray powder diffraction patterns. Photoluminescence studies in the solid-state at room temperature of 1–3 compounds exhibit interesting luminescence close to white light region due to ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT). Synopsis: Two pseudo-supramolecular isomeric pairs of Pb(II) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been synthesized which show structural transformation to desolvated 3D network structure. All the compounds exhibit interesting solid-state photoluminescence at room temperature which is very close to white light emission.