Series of new coordination polymers based flexible tricarboxylate as photocatalysts for Rh B dye degradation

Four new transition coordination polymers (CPs), including [M(H2L)2] (CuII for 1, and CdII for 4) and [M(H2L)2(H2O)2] (CoII for 2 and NiII for 3) (H4L ​= ​2-(4-(3,5-dicarboxylphenoxy)phenyl) benzimidazole-5-carboylic acid) have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. All the isophthalic acid ligands coordinate with M(II) to form 2D coordination layers in 1–4. The title compounds showed efficient photocatalytic performances to degrade rhodamine B (RhB) under UV irradiation. The percentage degradation of Rh B are 83.5%, 74.4%, 68.4% and 53.2% in presence of 1–4 as photocatalysts after 150 ​min of UV irradiation, respectively. The final degradation products were detected using LC–MS and the possible disassemble pathways for the degradation of dyes were suggested and listed. Four new polymers showed good candidates for the photocatalytic degradation of Rh B. The final degradation products were detected using LC–MS and the possible disassemble pathways for the degradation of dyes were suggested.▪ •Four different polymers have been synthesized by flexible tricarboxylate linker.•They showed excellent photocatalytic activities for dye degradation Rh B.•The degraded intermediates were traced and detected using LC–MS.