Synthesis, magnetic and fluorescence detection properties of four metal-organic frameworks based on imidazole carboxylic acid ligands

•Metal-organic frameworks based on imidazole carboxylic acid ligands were synthesized.•MOFs 1–3 have antiferromagnetic behavior.•MOF 4 has high selectivity and sensitivity for the detection of Cu2+ and Fe3+. Four new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), namely [M(HL)H2O]n (1–3) [M = Co (1), Ni (2), Cu (3)] and [Cd(HL)]n (4), were successfully structured based on imidazole carboxylic acid ligands [H3L = 5-(((1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl)amino) isophthalic acid]. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis showed that MOFs 1–3 possess the same two-dimensional (2D) planar structure, while MOF 4 exhibited a three-dimensional (3D) coordination network. The magnetic test results showed that MOFs 1–3 have typically antiferromagnetic behavior. The sensing experimental showed that MOF 4 could be considered as a promising bifunctional fluorescent sensor for Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions with excellent selectivity and sensitivity, and the detection limit were 4.11 μM and 4.89 μM, with Ksv values of 1.37 × 104 M−1 and 1.24 × 104 M−1, respectively. The cycling experiment illustrated the good reusability of the material. In addition, the fluorescence quenching mechanism of MOF 4 was further explored in detail. Four metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were constructed based on imidazole carboxylic acid ligands by solvothermal reaction conditions. The MOFs 1–3 have antiferromagnetic behavior. Additionally, MOF 4 has excellent luminescence properties, showing efficient recognition performance, anti-interference performance and recycling performance for Cu2+ and Fe3+. [Display omitted]