A polycatenated hydrogen-bonded organic framework based on embraced macrocyclic building blocks for fluorescence detection of nitrobenzene in water

A fluorescent polycatenated hydrogen-bonded organic framework (MEP-HOF) has been developed using a C-3-symmetric rigid macrocycle as the exclusive building block. Stabilised by intermolecular non-covalent interactions in the solid state, the tri-carboxylated macrocycles form supramolecular embraced pairs which further assemble the interwoven three-dimensional H-bond network with a degree of catenation of seven. The MEP-HOF features easy preparation and regeneration, and its fluorescent properties could be utilised as a sensitive sensor for nitrobenzene detection in water with a detection limit of 61.8 +/- 2.2 ppb.