Luminescence and catalytic properties of two nickel(II)-organic frameworks constructed by 5-substituted isophthalate and N-donor mixed ligands

Two nickel (II) based metal-organic frameworks, [Ni(1,4-bib)1.5(NO2-BDC) (H2O)]n (1) and [Ni(1,4-bimb) (CH3O-BDC)]n (2) (1,4-bib = 1,4-bis(1-imidazolyl)benzene, NO2-BDC = 5-nitroisophthalate, 1,4-bimb = 1,4-bis(imidazole-1-ylmethyl)benzene, and CH3O-BDC = 5-methoxyisophthalate) have been synthesized and were structurally characterized. Complex 1 is a three-fold interpenetrated 3D framework with 5-connected pcu topology and is comprised of Ni-1,4-bib layers further pillared by 5-nip approximately in the b direction. Complex 2 shows a 2D (4,4) sql network when dinuclear nickel ions and ligands are regarded as nodes and linkers, respectively. Furthermore, the luminescence and catalytic properties of 1–2 for the degradation of methyl orange in a Fenton-like process have also investigated.