Two robust Zn-MOFs were employed as visual and ultra-sensitive indicators toward enrofloxacin (ENR) and MnO 4 − anions in aqueous phase.
Selective detection of antibiotics and MnO 4 − is crucial for human health improvement and protecting the environment. Two stable Zn( ii)-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) {[Zn 6(L1) 2(NDC) 5( μ 2-OH) 2]·0.5H 2O} n (1), and {[Zn(L2)(NDC)]·2H 2O} n (2) (H 2NDC = 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, L1 = 1,5-bis(1-(pyridine-4-ylmethyl)-1 H-benzo[ d]imidazol-2-yl)pentane, L2 = 1,6-bis(1-(pyridine-4-ylmethyl)-1 H-benzo[ d]imidazol-2-yl)hexane) were successfully synthesized by adopting the mixed ligands approach. 1 is a rare 3D 3, 5, 6T23 framework based polynuclear complex group. 2 possesses a 2D sql layer. The two MOFs exhibit excellent chemical and thermal stability. The title compounds are promising dual-functional fluorescent sensors for detecting enrofloxacin/MnO 4 − anions with high selectivity and sensitivity ( K sv values toward enrofloxacin: 4.29 × 10 6 L mol −1 for 1 and 4.59 × 10 6 L mol −1 for 2 and toward MnO 4 −: 1.05 × 10 4 for 1, 5.48 × 10 3 L mol −1 for 2, respectively), which are the first observations of fluorescent MOFs for the sensing of enrofloxacin and MnO 4 − anions.