In situ ligand synthesis affording a new Co(ii) MOF for photocatalytic application

In situ disulfide bond formation affords a new flexible dicarboxylic acid ligand of 3,3 '-dithiobisbenzoic acid (3,3 '-H(2)DTBA), which assembled with Co(II) ions under hydrothermal conditions, generating a novel metal-organic framework (MOF), namely, [Co(3,3 '-DTBA)(2)(H2O)(2)](n) (1). This compound is assembled from layered structures, featuring weak interlayer interactions that can reduce pore blockage through relative sliding. The results of photocatalytic experiment indicate that MOF 1 is a good semiconducting material and it can function as photocatalyst for degrading methylene blue under the ultraviolet light irradiation. Cyclic experiments demonstrated its good stability and long-lasting photocatalytic performance, indicating its potential application value.