A Chemiluminescent Metal-Organic Framework

The synthesis and characterization of a chemiluminescent metal-organic framework with high porosity is reported. It consists of Zr6O6(OH)(4) nodes connected by 4,4'(anthracene-9,10-diyl) dibenzoate as the linker and luminophore. It shows the topology known for UiO-66 and is therefore denoted PAP-UiO. The MOF was not only obtained as bulk material but also as a thin film. Exposure of PAP-UiO as bulk or film to a mixture of bis-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxa-late, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium salicylate in a mixture of dimethyl and dibutyl phthalate evoked strong and long lasting chemiluminescence of the PAP-UiO crystals. Time dependent fluorescence spectroscopy on bulk PAP-UiO and, for comparison, on dimethyl 4,4'-(anthracene-9,10-diyl) dibenzoate provided evidence that the chemiluminescence originates from luminophores being part of the PAP-UiO, including the luminophores inside the crystals.