Thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) coordination polymer with the generation of singlet oxygen.

4,4'-{9,9'-Spirobi[10H-acridine]-10,10'-diyl}dibenzoic acid (L, CHNO) was designed and synthesized as a new donor-acceptor motif molecule. Due to the large dihedral angle between the planes of the carboxyphenyl group and the spiroacridine moiety, L possess thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). By applying L as a ligand and using Cd as a metal connector, we synthesized the coordination polymer catena-poly[hemi-μ-aqua-aqua(μ-4,4'-{9,9'-spirobi[10H-acridine]-10,10'-diyl}dibenzoato)cadmium(II)], [Cd(CHNO)(HO)], (I).