A multifunctional three-dimensional lanthanide metal–organic framework has been rationally constructed. Highly selective sensing of benzaldehyde and Cu2+ ions makes it a potential bifunctional sensor. Also, it could serve as a good candidate material for the removal of dyes from effluents based on the size exclusion.

•Ln-MOFs-incorporated monolith was first prepared for CEC.•The monolithic polymer was made using BMA, EDMA, and AMPS in presence of Eu3+-MOFs.•The influence of synthesis parameters on performance of Eu3+-MOFs monolith was studied.•Compared to monolith made without Ln-MOFs, Eu3+-MOFs monolith showed higher column efficiency.A new lanthanide metal-organic frameworks NKU-1 have successfully incorporated into poly (BMA-co-EDMA) monolith and evaluated by capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Lanthanide metal-organic frameworks [Eu2(ABTC)1.5(H2O)3(DMA)] (NKU-1) were synthesized by self-assembly of Eu(III) ions and 3,3′,5,5′-azo benzene tetracarboxylic acid ligands have been fabricated into poly(BMA-co-EDMA) monoliths. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and N,N-dimethylformamide were developed as binary porogen obtaining homogeneous dispersibility for NKU-1 and high permeability for monolithic column. The successful incorporation of NKU-1 into poly(BMA-co-EDMA) was confirmed and characterized by FT-IR spectra, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometer area scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Separation ability of the NKU-1-poly (BMA-co-EDMA) monoliths was demonstrated by separating four groups of analytes in CEC, including alkylbenzenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, aniline series and naphthyl substitutes. Compared with bare monolithic (column efficiency of 100,000 plates/m), the NKU-1-poly (BMA-co-EDMA) monoliths have displayed greater column efficiency (maximum 210,000 plates/m) and higher permeability, as well as less peak tailing. The results showed that the NKU-1-poly (BMA-co-EDMA) monoliths are promising stationary phases for CEC separations.

Framework-isomeric three-dimensional (3D) Zn–Ln heterometallic metal–organic frameworks, {[Ln2Zn(abtc)2(H2O)4]·2H2O}∞ {Ln = Sm(1), Tb(2)}, were synthesized using a convenient solvothermal reaction. They can serve as excellent sensors for the specific identification of benzaldehyde and NO2− through a fluorescence quenching process.

Two novel clusters [CoII14(μ6-O2−)(sbha)12(sba)2 (DMF)7(DMA)]·(DMF)8 (1) and [NiII14(μ6-O2−)(sbha)12(sba)2(DMF)8] (2) (sH2bha = 4-bromo-benzohydroximic acid; sHba = 4-bromobenzene carboxylic acid; DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide; DMA = dimethylamine) have been synthesized. The novel body-centred μ6-O2− bridged Co14 and Ni14 clusters are packed in distorted face-centered cubic (FCC) patterns with different symmetries. Magnetic studies confirmed the antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between magnetic centers.

Three types of lanthanide coordination polymers with the formulas [Ln(Habtc)(H2O)(DMA)]n (1–3) {Ln = Ho (1), Er (2), Tm (3)}, [Ln(Habtc)(H2O)2(DMF)]n (4–6) {Ln = Gd (4), Er (5), Tm (6)} and {[(CH3)2NH2][(H2abtc)2Ln(H2O)]·5H2O}n {Ln = Gd (7), Dy (8), Er (9), Tm (10)} were constructed under solvothermal conditions in the presence of 3,3′,5,5′-azobenzenetetracarboxylic acid (H4abtc). They have three structural types from 3D to 1D polymers. The structural features of the three types of Ln-CPs are as follows: 1–3 shows a three-dimensional (3D) framework with an sni-type topology. Compounds 4–6 form a 2D sheet-like extended structure and these sheets stack on each other to give a 3D supramolecular architecture. The structures of 7–10 can be described as 1D chains constructed from Ln3+ ions and H2abtc2− ligands. The versatile structures well exhibit the rich coordination chemistry of H4abtc and the coordination geometries of LnIII ions. In addition, the magnetic and luminescence properties of complex 8 were investigated. Luminescent selective and sensitive sensing of Cr3+ compared with other metal ions was investigated by using 8. Moreover, the 1D anionic lanthanide coordination polymer 10 presents highly selective adsorption of cationic dyes via ion-exchange processes. The results show that H4abtc is a good ligand for constructing CPs with varying structures and properties.

•A three-dimensional lanthanide metal-organic framework has been synthesized.•Complex 1 exhibits dual functional detection benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde among different aromatic molecules.•Complex 1 displays a turn-on luminescence sensing with respect to ethanol among different alcohol molecules.A 3D lanthanide MOF with formula [Sm2(abtc)1.5(H2O)3(DMA)]·H2O·DMA (1) has been successfully synthesized via solvothermal method. Luminescence studies reveal that 1 exhibits dual functional detection benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde among different aromatic molecules. In addition, 1 displays a turn-on luminescence sensing with respect to ethanol among different alcohol molecules, which suggests that 1 is also a promising luminescent probe for high selective sensing of ethanol.

•A new Cu-24 cluster polyhedron was synthesized successfully.•The complex can selective separate cationic dyes from aqueous solution effectively.The carbon-carbon double bond functionalized 24-nuclear copper cluster was successfully synthesized. The cluster can capture an impressive quantity of dyes, such as RhB (rhodamineB), MB (methylene blue) and CV (crystal violet). By the interaction between double bond and ions, the complex can selective separate cationic dyes from aqueous solution effectively.An exciting high symmetric 24-nuclear copper cluster was synthesized successfully via hydrothermal reaction. By the interaction of double bond and ions, the complex can selective separate cationic dyes from aqueous solution effectively.

Four novel coordination polymers based on an unsymmetrical angular ligand, 4-(5-(pyridin-3-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl) benzoic acid (H2L), namely, Co(HL)2(H2O)4 (1), {[Ni(HL)2(H2O)2]·2H2O}n (2), [Ni(HL)2(H2O)2]n (3), and [Zn2(HL)L(μ2-OH)]n (4) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized. Compounds 1–4 have totally different architectures. Compound 1 is 0D mononuclear molecule. Complex 2 displays a unique 1D chain structure. Complexes 3 and 4 show 2D network layers. These various architectures demonstrate the versatile coordination abilities of the pyridine-substituted triazolyl benzoate ligand. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements in the range 2–300 K revealed the existence of antiferromagnetic interactions among the adjacent Ni ions in 3. Besides, the luminescence properties of 4 and ligand were also discussed.Four novel coordination polymers based on an unsymmetrical angular ligand, 4-(5-(pyridin-3-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl) benzoic acid (H2L) have been prepared and characterized.

A self-assembled functionalized metal–organic nanotube, compound 1, has been hydrothermally synthesized using 5-(3-methyl-5-phenyl-4H-1, 2, 4-triazol-4-yl)isophthalic acid (H2L) with Zn(II) ions. Compound 1 possesses a one-dimensional (1D) nanotubular architecture. Luminescence studies show that compound 1 displays strong blue emission at room temperature. Benzene adsorption results show that the latter adsorbed benzene only on the outer walls, while the former adsorbed benzene also on the inner walls since the holes through the walls enabled benzene to reach the inner tubules.

A 1D anionic lanthanide coordination polymer {[(CH3)2NH2] [(H2abtc)2Ho(H2O)]}n (1) (H4abtc = 3,3′,5,5′-azobenzene-tetracarboxylic acid) has been synthesized under hydrothermal reaction conditions. The protonated [(CH3)2NH2]+ is generated from decomposed DMA during the reaction, and balances the negative charge of the framework. The as-obtained samples were characterized using single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction and TGA. Interestingly, 1 can selectively capture cationic dye molecules from mixtures of dye molecules containing different charges in aqueous solutions. Furthermore, 1 exhibits a different adsorption efficiency toward different cationic dyes (crystal violet, rhodamine B, safranine T and methylene blue). Among the studied dyes, methylene blue has a higher adsorption efficiency in comparison to the others. Thus, complex 1 could serve as a good candidate material for the selective removal of cationic dyes during the treatment of wastewater.

A series of metal–organic framework {Ln(BCPBA)(H2O)}n {Ln = Nd (1), Sm (2), Eu (3), Tb (4), Dy (5)}; {[Ln(BCPBA)(H2O)](H2O)}n {Ln = Pr (6), Gd (7)} have been synthesized through the hydrothermal synthesis method. These compounds possess non-interpenetrating 3D networks with 10.1438 Å × 17.9149 Å rhombic channels along the [001] direction. The results of temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that compounds 4 and 7 exhibit LnIII⋯LnIII antiferromagnetic interactions, while compound 5 exhibits LnIII⋯LnIII ferromagnetic interactions. Frequency dependent out-of-phase signals were observed in alternating current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements which indicate that they have slow magnetic relaxation characteristics. The luminescent properties of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are also discussed. Due to the good match between the lowest triplet state of the ligand and the resonant energy level of the lanthanide ion, compound 4 has longer fluorescence lifetime (τ1 = 400.0000 ms, τ2 = 1143.469 ms) and higher quantum yield (Φ = 42%) compared with other compounds.

The in situ hydrothermal reaction of 5-(4-carboxy-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)isophthalic acid (H3ctia) with M(NO3)2·nH2O (M = Cu, Ni) afforded two new coordination polymers, {[Cu4(tia)4(H2O)3]·H2O}n (1) and {Ni(H2O)6·[Ni2(ctia)2(H2O)6]·2H2O}n (2) (tia2− = 5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)isophthalate). X-ray structural analysis reveals complex 1 is an unusual 3D framework containing D4h paddle-wheel copper units and two kinds of mononuclear copper units, and its resulting structure can be rationalized as a new topology with the Schläfli symbol of {4.82}2{42.85.106.122}{82.10}2{83}2. Compound 2 displays a 1D zigzag chain structure. Strong antiferromagnetic interactions are observed among dinuclear units in complex 1. Interestingly, complex 2 exhibits spin-glass-like behaviour with the spin glass freezing temperature at 15.8 K. In addition, the thermal stability of these compounds was also studied.

A novel chiral helical triazacycloalkanes 1D complex {[Ni[12]aneN3](μN,S-SCN)(SCN)}n(1) ([12]aneN3 = 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane) was synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, elemental analysis, IR, electronic spectra and magnetic properties. The magnetic behaviour reveals a ferromagnetic interaction between Ni(II) ions through μN,S-SCN− bridges, 2J = 5.072 cm−1, g = 2.159.A novel chiral helical triazacycloalkanes 1D complex {[Ni[12]aneN3](μN,S-SCN)2(SCN)}n(1) ([12]aneN3 = 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane) was synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, elemental analysis, IR, electronic spectra and magnetic properties.

Three heteonuclear complexes containing [V10O28]6− units, {[Cu(pyr)(H2O)4]2(H3O)2[V10O28] · 13.5H2O}n (1), {[Ni(pyr)(H2O)4]2(H3O)2[V10O28] · 9.5H2O}n (2) and [Zn2(H2O)14(V10O28)] · H2PPZ (3) are synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, single crystal X-ray analyses. The complex 1 and 2 have the similar structures which are composed of the [V10O28]6− cluster anion and 1D chain {[M (pyr)(H2O)4]2+}n (M = Cu Ni) cations bridged by pyrazine. In the complex 3, Zn2+ with two coordination modes is bridged by water molecules to build 1D zigzag chains, and then is linked to the bridging oxygen atoms from [V10O28]6− to generate a 2D grid architecture filled with the protoned piperazine (PPZ) molecules. In this paper, the magnetic properties of complex 2 are characterized.

Two novel clusters [CoII14(μ6-O2−)(sbha)12(sba)2 (DMF)7(DMA)]·(DMF)8 (1) and [NiII14(μ6-O2−)(sbha)12(sba)2(DMF)8] (2) (sH2bha = 4-bromo-benzohydroximic acid; sHba = 4-bromobenzene carboxylic acid; DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide; DMA = dimethylamine) have been synthesized. The novel body-centred μ6-O2− bridged Co14 and Ni14 clusters are packed in distorted face-centered cubic (FCC) patterns with different symmetries. Magnetic studies confirmed the antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between magnetic centers.

A 1D anionic lanthanide coordination polymer {[(CH3)2NH2] [(H2abtc)2Ho(H2O)]}n (1) (H4abtc = 3,3′,5,5′-azobenzene-tetracarboxylic acid) has been synthesized under hydrothermal reaction conditions. The protonated [(CH3)2NH2]+ is generated from decomposed DMA during the reaction, and balances the negative charge of the framework. The as-obtained samples were characterized using single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction and TGA. Interestingly, 1 can selectively capture cationic dye molecules from mixtures of dye molecules containing different charges in aqueous solutions. Furthermore, 1 exhibits a different adsorption efficiency toward different cationic dyes (crystal violet, rhodamine B, safranine T and methylene blue). Among the studied dyes, methylene blue has a higher adsorption efficiency in comparison to the others. Thus, complex 1 could serve as a good candidate material for the selective removal of cationic dyes during the treatment of wastewater.

A series of metal–organic framework {Ln(BCPBA)(H2O)}n {Ln = Nd (1), Sm (2), Eu (3), Tb (4), Dy (5)}; {[Ln(BCPBA)(H2O)](H2O)}n {Ln = Pr (6), Gd (7)} have been synthesized through the hydrothermal synthesis method. These compounds possess non-interpenetrating 3D networks with 10.1438 Å × 17.9149 Å rhombic channels along the [001] direction. The results of temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that compounds 4 and 7 exhibit LnIII⋯LnIII antiferromagnetic interactions, while compound 5 exhibits LnIII⋯LnIII ferromagnetic interactions. Frequency dependent out-of-phase signals were observed in alternating current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements which indicate that they have slow magnetic relaxation characteristics. The luminescent properties of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are also discussed. Due to the good match between the lowest triplet state of the ligand and the resonant energy level of the lanthanide ion, compound 4 has longer fluorescence lifetime (τ1 = 400.0000 ms, τ2 = 1143.469 ms) and higher quantum yield (Φ = 42%) compared with other compounds.

Framework-isomeric three-dimensional (3D) Zn–Ln heterometallic metal–organic frameworks, {[Ln2Zn(abtc)2(H2O)4]·2H2O}∞ {Ln = Sm(1), Tb(2)}, were synthesized using a convenient solvothermal reaction. They can serve as excellent sensors for the specific identification of benzaldehyde and NO2− through a fluorescence quenching process.