Homochiral Metal−Organic Frameworks for Heterogeneous Asymmetric Catalysis

Metal–organic frameworks based on flexible ligands (FL-MOFs): structures and applications

This review presents the recent developments on FL-MOFs, including their structures and applications in gas adsorption, catalysis and proton conduction.

Catalysis by metal–organic frameworks: proline and gold functionalized MOFs for the aldol and three-component coupling reactions

Homochiral MOFs were engineered using postsynthetic modification and a one-pot synthetic strategy. l-Proline functionalized IRMOF-3 show high ee for aldol reaction. Gold functionalized CUP-1 catalysts are highly efficient for the A³ coupling reaction.

Recent advances on porous homochiral coordination polymers containing amino acid synthons

The recently developed strategies on the designed synthesis of porous homochiral MOCPs based on amino acid residues and their interesting properties are summarized in this highlight.

Rational construction of metal–organic frameworks for heterogeneous catalysis

The recently developed strategies on designed synthesis of porous metal–organic framework catalysts and their interesting catalytic properties are summarized in this short review.

Seven novel coordination polymers constructed by rigid 4-(4-carboxyphenyl)-terpyridine ligands: synthesis, structural diversity, luminescence and magnetic properties

Seven coordination polymers, namely [Mn(4-cptpy)2]n (1), [Co(4-cptpy)2]n (2), [Mn3(4-cptpy)6(H2O)]n·2nH2O (3), [Co(4-cptpy)(HCOO)(H2O)]n·nDMF (4), [Zn2(4-Hcptpy)2Cl4]n·2nC2H5OH·nH2O (5), [Co4(3-cptpy)4(HCOO)4(H2O)2]n (6), and [Mn(3-cptpy)2]n (7) (4-Hcptpy = 4-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,2':6',4''-terpyridine; 3-Hcptpy = 4-(4-carboxyphenyl)-3,2':6',3''-terpyridine), have been synthesized under hydro(solvo)thermal conditions and structurally characterized. A general solvothermal method is proposed for preparing carboxylate complexes in DMF solution without any basic additive. 1 and 2 possess isostructural 3D metal-organic frameworks containing nanosized cavities. 3 is a beautiful 2D coordination polymer assembled by flower-like Mn3(4-cptpy)6(H2O) subunits. 4 and 6 both display 2D polymeric networks constructed from 4/3-cptpy(-) ligands, in which the formate ligands originate from the hydrolysis of DMF. 5 is a 1D 2(1) helical chain polymer. 7 shows a 2D network with a (3.6) two-nodal kgd topology. 4/3-Hcptpy ligands display seven types of coordination modes. The zinc complex 5 emits strong violet luminescence. 1 and 2 are both thermally stable below 440 °C and exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions.

A highly oriented hybrid microarray modified electrode fabricated by a template-free method for ultrasensitive electrochemical DNA recognition

Highly oriented growth of a hybrid microarray was realized by a facile template-free method on gold substrates for the first time. The proposed formation mechanism involves an interfacial structure-directing force arising from self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) between gold substrates and hybrid crystals. Different SAMs and variable surface coverage of the assembled molecules play a critical role in the interfacial directing forces and influence the morphologies of hybrid films. A highly oriented hybrid microarray was formed on the highly aligned and vertical SAMs of 1,4-benzenedithiol molecules with rigid backbones, which afforded an intense structure-directing power for the oriented growth of hybrid crystals. Additionally, the density of the microarray could be adjusted by controlling the surface coverage of assembled molecules. Based on the hybrid microarray modified electrode with a large specific area (ca. 10 times its geometrical area), a label-free electrochemical DNA biosensor was constructed for the detection of an oligonucleotide fragment of the avian flu virus H5N1. The DNA biosensor displayed a significantly low detection limit of 5 pM (S/N = 3), a wide linear response from 10 pM to 10 nM, as well as excellent selectivity, good regeneration and high stability. We expect that the proposed template-free method can provide a new reference for the fabrication of a highly oriented hybrid array and the as-prepared microarray modified electrode will be a promising paradigm in constructing highly sensitive and selective biosensors.

Spontaneous chiral resolution directed by symmetry restriction and π-π interaction

In order to understand and rationally construct homochiral self-assembled structures from racemic molecules, two novel crystalline metal-organic frameworks with chiral cavities were developed. The homochirality of the layers in both MOFs was achieved by forming strong coordinate bonds between the C₃-symmetric cyclotriveratrylene and Zn₄O(CO₂)₆ cluster. By changing weak π-π interactions between organic building blocks, the achiral assembly of ZnCTV-1 was successfully transformed into a chiral assembly in ZnCTV-2. This study demonstrated a possible route for designing the synthesis of chiral MOF through weak interactions.

The Chemistry and Applications of Metal-Organic Frameworks

Crystalline metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are formed by reticular synthesis, which creates strong bonds between inorganic and organic units. Careful selection of MOF constituents can yield crystals of ultrahigh porosity and high thermal and chemical stability. These characteristics allow the interior of MOFs to be chemically altered for use in gas separation, gas storage, and catalysis, among other applications. The precision commonly exercised in their chemical modification and the ability to expand their metrics without changing the underlying topology have not been achieved with other solids. MOFs whose chemical composition and shape of building units can be multiply varied within a particular structure already exist and may lead to materials that offer a synergistic combination of properties.

Catalysis at the Organic Ligands

Crystalline metal organic frameworks containing catalytically active organic linkers or ancillary ligands (i.e., catalysts at the organic ligands) are an intriguing sub‐set of heterogeneous catalysts. These catalysts are atomically defined and offer a platform to readily designed single‐site catalysts. The literature encompasses approximately fifty experimental examples from which we highlight a handful of what we perceive to be,key conceptual papers. It is clear that many of the attractive visions for MOF catalysts—including, “multi‐catalyst architectures”, “metal coordination environments that can be achieved in no other ways” and “reactivity‐defining microenvironments”—are starting to be realized.

Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of Eu3+-doped silica@coordination polymer core-shell structures and their calcinated silica@Gd2O3:Eu and hollow Gd2O3:Eu microsphere products

The conjugation of Eu(3+)-doped coordination polymers constructed from Gd(3+) and isophthalic acid (H(2)IPA) with silica particles is investigated for the production of luminescent microspheres. A series of doping ratio-controlled silica@coordination polymer core-shell spheres is easily synthesized by altering the amounts of metal nodes used in the reactions, where the ratios of Gd(3+) and Eu(3+) are 10:0 (1a), 9:1 (1b), 8:2 (1c), 7:3 (1d), 5:5 (1e), and 0:10 (1f). The formation of monodisperse uniform core-shell structures is achieved throughout the entirety of a series. Investigations of the photoluminescence property of the resulting series of silica@coordination polymer core-shell spheres reveal that 20% Eu(3+)-doped product (1c) has the strongest emission intensity. The subsequent calcination process on the silica@coordination polymer core-shell structures (1a-f) results in the formation of a series of doping ratio-controlled silica@Gd(2)O(3):Eu core-shell microspheres (2a-f) with uniform shell thickness. During the calcination step, the coordination polymers within silica@coordination polymer core-shells are transformed into metal oxides, resulting in silica@Gd(2)O(3):Eu core-shell structures. The final etching process on the silica@Gd(2)O(3):Eu core-shell microspheres (2a-f) produces a series of hollow Gd(2)O(3):Eu microspheres (3a-f) as a result of the elimination of silica cores. The luminescence intensities of silica@Gd(2)O(3):Eu core-shell (2a-f) and hollow Gd(2) O(3):Eu microspheres (3a-f) also vary depending upon the doping ratio of Eu(3+) ions.

Hollow microporous organic capsules

Fabrication of hollow microporous organic capsules (HMOCs) could be very useful because of their hollow and porous morphology, which combines the advantages of both microporous organic polymers and non-porous nanocapsules. They can be used as storage materials or reaction chambers while supplying the necessary path for the design of controlled uptake/release systems. Herein, the synthesis of HMOCs with high surface area through facile emulsion polymerization and hypercrosslinking reactions, is described. Due to their tailored porous structure, these capsules possessed high drug loading efficiency, zero-order drug release kinetics and are also demonstrated to be used as nanoscale reactors for the prepareation of nanoparticles (NPs) without any external stabilizer. Moreover, owing to their intrinsic biocompatibility and fluorescence, these capsules exhibit promising prospect for biomedical applications.

Two Zn(II) metal-organic frameworks with coordinatively unsaturated metal sites: structures, adsorption, and catalysis

Assembly of Zn(NO(3))(2) with the tripodal ligand H(3)TCPB (1,3,5-tri(4-carboxyphenoxy)benzene) affords two porous isoreticular metal-organic frameworks, [Zn(3)(TCPB)(2)⋅2DEF]⋅3DEF (1) and [Zn(3)(TCPB)(2)⋅2H(2)O]⋅2H(2)O⋅4DMF (2). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c and possesses a 2D network containing 1D microporous opening channels with an effective size of 3.0×2.9 Å(2), whereas 2 crystallizes in the trigonal space group P3c1 and also possesses a 2D network containing 1D channels, with an effective aperture of 4.0×4.0 Å(2). TOPOS analysis reveals that both 1 and 2 have a (3,6)-connected network topology with the Schläfli symbol of (4(3)⋅6(12)) (4(3))(2). According to the variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction patterns, the solid phase of 1 can be converted into that of 2 during a temperature-induced dynamic structural transformation, thus indicating that the framework of 2 represents the most thermally stable polymorph. Desolvated 2 exhibits highly selective adsorption behaviors toward H(2)/N(2), CO(2)/N(2), and CO(2)/CH(4); furthermore, it displays size-selective catalytic activity towards carbonyl cyanosilylation and Henry (nitroaldol) reactions.