Framework Materials Based on Naphthalenediimide Derivatives Supported by Aromatic Carboxylic Acids for Application as Multifunctional Fluorescence Sensors

Abstract In this work, based on the conjugated structure of the naphthalene ring system, four stable Cd‐NDI complexes {[Cd(NDI−A) 0.5 (H 2 O)(o‐BDC)]⋅H 2 O} n ( 1 ); {[Cd(NDI−A)(DMF)(m‐BDC)]⋅H 2 O} n ( 2 ); {[Cd(NDI−A)(HCOO)(p‐BDC) 0.5 ]} n ( 3 ); {[Cd 1.5 (NDI−A) 2 (H 2 O) 2 (TIBTC)] ⋅ 2H 2 O} n ( 4 ) (NDI‐A=N,N’‐di(4‐pyridylacylamino)‐1,4,5,8‐naphthalenediimide; o‐H 2 BDC=phthalic acid; m‐H 2 BDC=iso‐phthalic acid; p‐H 2 BDC=p‐phthalic acid; H 3 TIBTC=2,4,6‐triiodo‐1,3,5‐benzene tricarboxylic acid) are designed and synthesized. The four Cd‐NDI complexes have good luminescence properties, and complexes 1–3 can selectively detect Cr 2 O 7 2− and L‐Arginine in water. Complex 1 has the best ability to detect Cr 2 O 7 2− with a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.32 μM; complex 3 can be employed for the detection of L‐arginine with a LOD of 2.25 μM. Complex 1–3 may be useful for monitoring water quality and treating wastewater as a good fluorescence sensor. In addition, based on the specific detection species of C=N bonds by complexes 1–3 , we take complex 3 as an example to conduct preliminary studies monitoring a Schiff base reaction in situ with fluorescence quenching. This provides a new method for monitoring organic reactions. Besides, we also have explored the ability of complex 4 to detect p ‐nitroaniline. The results show that the complex 4 could selectively detect p ‐nitroaniline with a LOD of 5.12 μM.