Anion-Induced Structural Diversity of Zn and Cd Coordination Polymers Based on Bis-9,10-(pyridine-4-yl)-anthracene, Their Luminescent Properties, and Highly Efficient Sensing of Nitro Derivatives and Herbicides.

Luminescent coordination polymers (CPs) of Zn2+ or Cd2+ and bis-9,10-(pyridine-4-yl)-anthracene (BA) show different 1D and 2D topologies depending on the anion used in the precursor. Compounds {[Zn(μ2-BA)(MeOH)2(p-Tos)2]} n (1) and {[Zn(μ2-BA)(MeOH)2(CF3CO2)2]} n (2) form linear structures and {BA@[Zn(μ2-BA)(MeOH)2(H2O)2](CF3SO3)2} n (3) featuring intercalation of uncoordinated BA molecules into linear ribbons. Cd-based CPs {[Cd(μ2-BA)2(ClO4)2]· n(DCM)} n (4) and {[Cd(μ2-BA)(MeOH)2(Dioxane)(η2-SiF6)]·mDioxane} n (5) form porous structures with 2D lattices. All complexes exhibit strong blue emission in the solid state with average lifetimes between 8 and 13 ns. The emission of compound 4 is sensitive to the presence of nitro aromatics, simazine, and trichloroanisole (TCA) and demonstrates nonlinear Stern-Volmer quenching kinetics. Limits of detection (LOD) of 15 and 16 ppb for picric acid and TCA were achieved, respectively.