Synthesis,structure and selective luminescence sensing for iron(III) ions of a three‐dimensional zinc(II) (4,6)‐connected coordination network

Coordination polymers constructed from conjugated organic ligands and metal ions with a d¹⁰ electronic configuration exhibit intriguing properties for chemical sensing and photochemistry. A Zn^II‐based coordination polymer, namely poly[aqua(μ₆‐biphenyl‐3,3′,5,5′‐tetracarboxylato)(μ₂‐4,4′‐bipyridine)dizinc(II)], [Zn₂(C₁₆H₆O₈)(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)₂]_n or [Zn₂(m,m‐bpta)(4,4′‐bipy)(H₂O)₂]_n, was synthesized from a mixture of biphenyl‐3,3′,5,5′‐tetracarboxylic acid [H₄(m,m‐bpta)], 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bipy) and Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O under solvothermal conditions. The title complex has been structurally characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and powder X‐ray diffraction analysis, and features a μ₆‐coordination mode. The Zn^II ions adopt square‐pyramidal geometries and are bridged by two syn–syn carboxylate groups to form [Zn₂(COO)₂] secondary buildding units (SBUs). The SBUs are crosslinked by (m,m‐bpta)^4? ligands to produce a two‐dimensional grid‐like layer that exhibits a stair‐like structure along the a axis. Adjacent layers are linked by 4,4′‐bipy ligands to form a three‐dimensional network with a {4⁴.6¹⁰.8}{4⁴.6²} topology. In the solid state, the complex displays a strong photoluminescence and an excellent solvent stability. In addition, the luminescence sensing results indicate a highly selective and sensitive sensing for Fe³⁺ ions.