A new ligand [1-{2-(2-pyridyl)-benzo[d]imidazole}-2-(5-hydroxyisophthalic acid) ethane] was used to synthesize cadmium and cobalt based florescent organic frameworks successfully under solvothermal conditions. Single-crystal X-ray crystallography of both complexes as well as their thermal stability and luminescence properties was investigated. Much emphasis was placed on the newly synthesized Cd-complex which shows great sensitivity for the detection of Fe³⁺ ions and could be used as a potential probe to detect the Fe³⁺ ions.