Uranium MOF derivative based on 2,2',2''-[1 4,6-triyltris(thio)]trisacetic acid as sensor for ruthenium(III) and biomolecules

Highlights: • Two uranium organic frameworks were synthesized using the hydrothermal method with different uranium metal salts. • The slight change of the microenvironment of the uranyl in different solvents give different fluorescence properties. • The charming luminescence properties make the compound a candidate for detecting the small molecules (Ru³⁺, BSA, DA, AA, UA). Two MOFs of uranium derivatives (NH₄)[UO₂(TTTA)]·2H₂O (Complex 1) and [UO₂(H₂O)₅]·[(UO₂(TTTA))₂] (Complex 2) based on a flexible 2,2',2''-[1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyltris(thio)]trisacetic acid were synthesized using solvothermal techniques with different uranyl metal salts. The structure was explored using single-crystal diffraction and both of the compounds give a one-dimensional chain, then the two compounds were further characterized with IR, TG, UV–vis and other instruments. The fluorescence spectra of the compounds in different solvents have a slight change due to the transform of the electron state, and the luminescence properties showed that those one-dimensional uranium organic frameworks have a favorable sensitive response to Ru³⁺ and biomolecules (BSA, DA, AA, UA). It indicates that the host-guest interaction plays a crucial role in detecting these molecules, and the compounds could be used as an excellent sensor for the small molecules with a detect limitation of 33.03μM (Complex 2 of UA).