Selective fluorescence sensors and photocatalysis of four new luminescent coordination complexes

Four new complexes, [Cd(ox)0.5(nim)(2,2’-bipy)]n (1), [Cd(nim)2]n (2), [Cd(nim)2(H2O)2]n (3), and [Zn(nim)2(H2O)2]∙H2O (4) (Hnim = 4-nitroimidazolate, H2ox = oxalic acid and 2,2’-bipy = 2,2’-bipyridine) have been prepared. 1–3 exhibit 2D grid networks, while complex 4 shows mononuclear structure. The photoluminescent sensing of nitrobenzene indicates that the synthesized complexes 1 and 4 are potential candidates for detecting these nitroaromatic species. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activities of 1–4 were also discussed, in which exhibit efficient catalytic activity for the degradation of methylene violet (MV).