Cinnamal sensing and luminescence color tuning in a series of rare-earth metal−organic frameworks with trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate

Three isostructural metal–organic frameworks ([Ln2(phen)2(NO3)2(chdc)2]⋅2DMF (Ln³⁺ = Y³⁺ for 1, Eu³⁺ for 2 or Tb³⁺ for 3; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; H2chdc = trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicar-boxylic acid) were synthesized and characterized. The compounds are based on a binuclear block {M2(phen)2(NO3)2(OOCR)4} assembled into a two-dime nsional square-grid network containing tetragonal channels with 26% total solvent-accessible volume. Yttrium (1)-, europium (2)-and terbium (3)-based structures emit in the blue, red and green regions, respectively, representing the basic colors of the standard RGB matrix. A doping of Eu³⁺ and/or Tb³⁺ centers into the Y³⁺-based phase led to mixed-metal compositions with tunable emission color and high quantum yields (QY) up to 84%. The bright luminescence of a suspension of microcrystalline 3 in DMF (QY = 78%) is effectively quenched by diluted cinnamaldehyde (cinnamal) solutions at millimolar concentrations, suggesting a convenient and analytically viable sensing method for this important chemical.