Two 3D supramolecular isomeric Zn(II)-MOFs as photocatalysts for photodegradation of methyl violet dye

Abstract Two new Zn(II) metal-organic-frameworks displaying supramolecular isomerism have been synthesized using 1,3-bis(2-methylimidazolyl)propane (bmp) and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H3BTC). The isomer [NH2(CH3)2][Zn2O(bmp)(BTC)] (1) adopt 2-fold interpenetrating framework topology defined by bey-type of interpenetration while another isomer [NH2(CH3)2][Zn2O(bmp)(BTC)].1.5DMF (2) adopt 2-fold interpenetrating framework topology defined by CdSO4-type of interpenetration. The difference in topologies of two MOFs can be ascribed to the flexibility of 1,3-bis(2-methylimidazolyl)propane ligand; because of which 2 lies on a crystallographic mirror plane. Both MOFs display efficient photocatalytic properties for the photodegradation of model aromatic dye methyl violet (MV). The photocatalytic mechanism in both the MOFs have been explained by using density of states calculations. Moreover, chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has been performed to further validate the potential photodegradation mechanism of MV.