Porous Interpenetrated Zirconium-Organic Frameworks (PIZOFs): A Chemically Versatile Family of Metal-Organic Frameworks

A zirconium metal–organic framework with an exceptionally high volumetric surface area

A highly stable Zr(iv)-based metal–organic framework with an exceptionally high volumetric surface area.

High-Throughput Screening of Metal-Organic Frameworks for CO2 Capture in the Presence of Water

Competitive coadsorption of water is a major problem in the deployment of adsorption-based CO₂ capture. Water molecules may compete for adsorption sites, reducing the capacity of the material, and dehumidification prior to separating CO₂ from N₂ increases process complexity and cost. The development of adsorbent materials that can selectively adsorb CO₂ in the presence of water would be a major step forward in the deployment of CO₂ capture materials in practice. In this study, large-scale computational screening was carried out to search for metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with high selectivity toward CO₂ over H₂O. Calculating framework charges for thousands of MOFs is a significant challenge, so initial screening used a fast, but approximate, charge calculation method. On the basis of the initial screening, 15 MOFs were selected, and Monte Carlo simulations were carried out to compute the adsorption isotherms for these MOFs using more accurate framework charges calculated by density functional theory. A detailed investigation was performed on the effect of using different methods for calculating partial charges, and it was found that electrostatic interactions contribute the majority of the adsorption energy of H₂O in the selected MOFs.

Stereoselective Halogenation of Integral Unsaturated C-C Bonds in Chemically and Mechanically Robust Zr and Hf MOFs

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) containing Zr(IV) -based secondary building units (SBUs), as in the UiO-66 series, are receiving widespread research interest due to their enhanced chemical and mechanical stabilities. We report the synthesis and extensive characterisation, as both bulk microcrystalline and single crystal forms, of extended UiO-66 (Zr and Hf) series MOFs containing integral unsaturated alkene, alkyne and butadiyne units, which serve as reactive sites for postsynthetic modification (PSM) by halogenation. The water stability of a Zr-stilbene MOF allows the dual insertion of both -OH and -Br groups in a single, aqueous bromohydrination step. Quantitative bromination of alkyne- and butadiyne-containing MOFs is demonstrated to be stereoselective, as a consequence of the linker geometry when bound in the MOFs, while the inherent change in hybridisation and geometry of integral linker atoms is facilitated by the high mechanical stabilities of the MOFs, allowing bromination to be characterised in a single-crystal to single-crystal (SCSC) manner. The facile addition of bromine across the unsaturated C-C bonds in the MOFs in solution is extended to irreversible iodine sequestration in the vapour phase. A large-pore interpenetrated Zr MOF demonstrates an I2 storage capacity of 279 % w/w, through a combination of chemisorption and physisorption, which is comparable to the highest reported capacities of benchmark iodine storage materials for radioactive I2 sequestration. We expect this facile PSM process to not only allow trapping of toxic vapours, but also modulate the mechanical properties of the MOFs.

A Simple and Non-Destructive Method for Assessing the Incorporation of Bipyridine Dicarboxylates as Linkers within Metal-Organic Frameworks

As a novel avenue for applications, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are increasingly used for heterogenizing catalytic molecular species as linkers into their crystalline framework. These multifunctional compounds can be accessed with mixed linkers synthesis or postsynthetic-exchange strategies. Major limitations still reside in their challenging characterization; in particular, to provide evidence of the genuine incorporation of the functionalized linkers into the framework and their quantification. Herein, we demonstrate that a combination of computational chemistry, spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction allows access to a non-destructive analysis of mixed-linker UiO-67-type materials featuring biphenyl- and bipyridine-dicarboxylates. Our UV/Vis-based methodology has been further applied to characterize a series of Rh-functionalized UiO-67-type catalysts. The proposed approach allows a recurrent key issue in the characterization of similar supported organometallic systems to be solved.

Parameterizing and grading hydrolytic stability in metal–organic frameworks

Water stability of MOFs is reviewed including exposure techniques, characterization methods, and ultimately more consistent definitions of water stability.

Zr-based metal–organic frameworks: design, synthesis, structure, and applications

This review summarizes the advances in the study of Zr-based metal–organic frameworks in terms of their design, synthesis, structure, and potential applications.

A zirconium squarate metal-organic framework with modulator-dependent molecular sieving properties

We report the first zirconium metal-organic framework based on squaric acid, representing the member with the smallest unit cell in the isoreticular UiO-66 family. Its molecular sieving properties are strongly influenced by the monocarboxylic acid modulator incorporated during synthesis.

Stable porphyrin Zr and Hf metal-organic frameworks featuring 2.5 nm cages: high surface areas, SCSC transformations and catalyses

Two isostructural porphyrin Zr and Hf metal-organic frameworks (FJI-H6 and FJI-H7) are rationally synthesized, and are constructed from 2.5 nm cubic cages. Notably, they both possess high water and chemical stability and can undergo single-crystal to single-crystal transformations to embed Cu2+ ions into the open porphyrin rings. FJI-H6 has a high BET surface area of 5033 m2 g-1. Additionally, they exhibit promising catalytic abilities to convert CO2 and epoxides into cyclic carbonates at ambient conditions.

Double-walled topology networks from a novel fluoride-bridged heptanuclear metal cluster

Two isostructural metal-organic materials, Tripp-1-M (Tripp = 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)pyridine; M = Co, Ni), that exhibit binodal 3,6-connected pyr network topology have been prepared and characterized. Tripp-1-M are based upon a novel M₇F₁₂²⁺ cluster that possesses 12 connection points but, because of double cross-linking by 3-connected Tripp ligands, it functions as a 6-connected supermolecular building block (SBB).

Tuning the structure and function of metal-organic frameworks via linker design

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are constructed from metal ions/clusters coordinated by organic linkers (or bridging-ligands). The hallmark of MOFs is their permanent porosity, which is frequently found in MOFs constructed from metal-clusters. These clusters are often formed in situ, whereas the linkers are generally pre-formed. The geometry and connectivity of a linker dictate the structure of the resulting MOF. Adjustments of linker geometry, length, ratio, and functional-group can tune the size, shape, and internal surface property of a MOF for a targeted application. In this critical review, we highlight advances in MOF synthesis focusing on linker design. Examples of building MOFs to reach unique properties, such as unprecedented surface area, pore aperture, molecular recognition, stability, and catalysis, through linker design are described. Further search for application-oriented MOFs through judicious selection of metal clusters and organic linkers is desirable. In this review, linkers are categorized as ditopic (Section 1), tritopic (Section 2), tetratopic (Section 3), hexatopic (Section 4), octatopic (Section 5), mixed (Section 6), desymmetrized (Section 7), metallo (Section 8), and N-heterocyclic linkers (Section 9).

Enantioselective copper-catalyzed alkynylation of benzopyranyl oxocarbenium ions

We have developed highly enantioselective, copper-catalyzed alkynylations of benzopyranyl acetals. By using a copper(I) catalyst equipped with a chiral bis(oxazoline) ligand, high yields and enantioselectivities are achieved in the alkynylation of widely available, racemic isochroman and chromene acetals to deliver α-chiral oxygen heterocycles. This method demonstrates that chiral organometallic nucleophiles can be successfully used in enantioselective additions to oxocarbenium ions.

Tackling poison and leach: catalysis by dangling thiol-palladium functions within a porous metal-organic solid

Self-standing thiol (-SH) groups within a Zr(IV)-based metal-organic framework (MOF) anchor Pd(II) atoms for catalytic applications: the spatial constraint prevents the thiol groups from sealing off/poisoning the Pd(II) center, while the strong Pd-S bond precludes Pd leaching, enabling multiple cycles of heterogeneous catalysis to be executed.

Chemical and structural stability of zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks with large three-dimensional pores by linker engineering

The synthesis of metal-organic frameworks with large three-dimensional channels that are permanently porous and chemically stable offers new opportunities in areas such as catalysis and separation. Two linkers (L1=4,4',4'',4'''-([1,1'-biphenyl]-3,3',5,5'-tetrayltetrakis(ethyne-2,1-diyl)) tetrabenzoic acid, L2=4,4',4'',4'''-(pyrene-1,3,6,8-tetrayltetrakis(ethyne-2,1-diyl))tetrabenzoic acid) were used that have equivalent connectivity and dimensions but quite distinct torsional flexibility. With these, a solid solution material, [Zr6 O4 (OH)4 (L1)2.6 (L2)0.4 ]⋅(solvent)x , was formed that has three-dimensional crystalline permanent porosity with a surface area of over 4000 m(2)  g(-1) that persists after immersion in water. These properties are not accessible for the isostructural phases made from the separate single linkers.

De facto methodologies toward the synthesis and scale-up production of UiO-66-type metal–organic frameworks and membrane materials

The recent development in the synthetic methods and scale-up production of UiO-66-type MOFs and their related composites is presented.

A Zr metal–organic framework based on tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) silane and factors affecting the hydrothermal stability of Zr-MOFs

A new Zr-MOF based on tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) silane was synthesized, and factors affecting the hydrothermal stabilities of Zr-MOFs are discussed.

Increasing the Stability of Metal-Organic Frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a new category of advanced porous materials undergoing study by many researchers for their vast variety of both novel structures and potentially useful properties arising from them. Their high porosities, tunable structures, and convenient process of introducing both customizable functional groups and unsaturated metal centers have afforded excellent gas sorption and separation ability, catalytic activity, luminescent properties, and more. However, the robustness and reactivity of a given framework are largely dependent on its metal-ligand interactions, where the metal-containing clusters are often vulnerable to ligand substitution by water or other nucleophiles, meaning that the frameworks may collapse upon exposure even to moist air. Other frameworks may collapse upon thermal or vacuum treatment or simply over time. This instability limits the practical uses of many MOFs. In order to further enhance the stability of the framework, many different approaches, such as the utilization of high-valence metal ions or nitrogen-donor ligands, were recently investigated. This review details the efforts of both our research group and others to synthesize MOFs possessing drastically increased chemical and thermal stability, in addition to exemplary performance for catalysis, gas sorption, and separation.

High valence 3p and transition metal based MOFs

This article focuses on high valence 3p and transition metal based metal organic frameworks.

Insight into the mechanism of modulated syntheses: in situ synchrotron diffraction studies on the formation of Zr-fumarate MOF

In situ synchrotron diffraction studies on the formation of the Zr-fumarate MOF give insight into the mechanism of modulated MOF syntheses. In a water-based synthesis, evidence for a coordination modulation mechanism was found.

Synthesis and properties of fluorous benzoquinones and their application in deprotection of silyl ethers

1,4-Benzoquinone derivatives bearing perfluoroalkyl groups were prepared and used as a recyclable catalyst in the selective desilylation of silyl ethers.

A molecular porous zirconium–organic material exhibiting highly selective CO2 adsorption, high thermal stability, reversible hydration, facile ligand exchange and exclusive dimerization of phenylacetylene

A multi-functional molecular porous zirconium-organic material, CAUMOF-12, has been discovered.

Metal–organic frameworks with improved moisture stability based on a phosphonate monoester: effect of auxiliary N-donor ligands on framework dimensionality

A series of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with improved moisture stability based on a phosphonate monoester, featuring 1D chains, 2D layers and 3D networks, have been obtained in the presence of auxiliary N-donor ligands.

Metal-organic frameworks based on previously unknown Zr8/Hf8 cubic clusters

The ongoing study of zirconium- and hafnium-porphyrinic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) led to the discovery of isostructural MOFs based on Zr8 and Hf8 clusters, which are unknown in both cluster and MOF chemistry. The Zr8O6 cluster features an idealized Zr8 cube, in which each Zr atom resides on one vertex and each face of the cube is capped by one μ4-oxygen atom. On each edge of the cube, a carboxylate from a porphyrinic ligand bridges two Zr atoms to afford a 3D MOF with a very rare (4,12)-connected ftw topology, in which two types of polyhedral cages with diameters of ∼1.1 and ∼2.0 nm and a cage opening of ∼0.8 nm are found. The isostructural Zr- and Hf-MOFs exhibit high surface areas, gas uptakes, and catalytic selectivity for cyclohexane oxidation.