Two Zn(II) coordination polymers for highly selective detection of phenol based nitroaromatics and removal of water soluble organic dyes

Two new coordination polymers, namely, [Zn-2(ctpy)(2)(bdc)](n) (1) and [Zn(ctpy)(suc)(0.5)](n) (2) (Hctpy = 2,2':6'2 ''-terpyridine-4'-carboxylic acid, H(2)bdc = 1,4-benzene dicarboxylic acid, H(2)suc = succinic acid) have been synthesized under solvothermal condition. Structural analysis reveals that complexes 1 and 2 exhibit 1D ladder chain structures formed with the coordinated Zn(II) and Hctpy as ladder chains and the coordinated H(2)bdc/H(2)suc as the bars. The neighbouring chains are further linked by pi ... pi packing to form 2D layer structures. Both the two complexes show highly selective detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, 2,4-dinitrophenol, 4-nitrophenol and 2-nitrophenol from benzene based nitroaromatics (NACs), and efficient removal of Congo Red (CR) from aqueous solution.