A Cryptand Metal-Organic Framework as a Platform for the Selective Uptake and Detection of Group I Metal Cations

Diverse Applications of Biomass-Derived 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural and Derivatives as Renewable Starting Materials

This Review summarizes recent efforts to capitalize on 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and related furans as emerging building blocks for the synthesis of fine chemicals and materials, with a focus on advanced applications within medicinal and polymer chemistry, as well as nanomaterials. As with all chemical industries, these fields have historically relied heavily on petroleum-derived starting materials, an unsustainable and polluting feedstock. Encouragingly, the emergent chemical versatility of biomass-derived furans has been shown to facilitate derivatization towards valuable targets. Continued work on the synthetic manipulation of HMF, and related derivatives, for access to a wide range of target compounds and materials is crucial for further development. Increasingly, biomass-derived furans are being utilized for a wide range of chemical applications, the continuation of which is paramount to accelerate the paradigm shift towards a sustainable chemical industry.

Zn(II) and Co(II) 3D Coordination Polymers Based on 2-Iodoterephtalic Acid and 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane: Structures and Sorption Properties

Metal-organic frameworks [M₂(2-I-bdc)₂bpe] (M = Zn(II) (1), Co(II) (2), 2-I-bdc = 2-iodoterephtalic acid, and bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane) were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffractometry. Both compounds retain their 3D structure after the removal of guest DMF molecules. Selectivity of sorption of different organic substrates from the gas phase was investigated for both complexes.

A Selenophene-Incorporated Metal-Organic Framework for Enhanced CO2 Uptake and Adsorption Selectivity

A new metal–organic coordination polymer [Zn₂(sedc)₂(dabco)] (1se; sedc²⁻ = selepophene-2,5-dicarboxylate; dabco = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) was synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. This MOF is based on {Zn₂(OOCR)₄N₂} paddle wheels and is isoreticular to the family of [Zn₂(bdc)₂(dabco)] derivatives (1b; bdc²⁻ = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) with pcu topology. The gas adsorption measurements revealed that 1se shows a 15% higher CO₂ volumetric uptake at 273 K and 28% higher CO₂ uptake at 298 K (both at 1 bar) compared to the prototypic framework 1b. Methane and nitrogen adsorption at 273 K was also investigated, and IAST calculations demonstrated a pronounced increase in CO₂/CH₄ and CO₂/N₂ selectivity for 1se, compared with 1b. For example, the selectivity factor for the equimolar CO₂/CH₄ gas mixture at 1 bar = 15.1 for 1se and 11.9 for 1b. The obtained results show a remarkable effect of the presence of selenium atom on the carbon dioxide affinity in the isoreticular metal–organic frameworks with very similar geometry and porosity.

Tuning the Molecular and Cationic Affinity in a Series of Multifunctional Metal-Organic Frameworks Based on Dodecanuclear Zn(II) Carboxylate Wheels

A series of new zinc(II)-thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylate (tdc) MOFs based on novel dodecanuclear wheel-shaped building blocks has been synthesized in almost quantative yields. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal 3D porous frameworks with a complex composition [Zn₁₂(tdc)₆(glycolate)₆(dabco)₃] where glycolate is a deprotonated polyatomic alcohol (ethylene glycol, EgO₂, 1; 1,2-propanediol, PrO₂, 2; 1,2-butanediol, BuO₂, 3; 1,2-pentanediol, PeO₂, 4; glycerol, GlO₂, 5) and dabco is 1,4-diazo[2.2.2.]bicyclooctane. All compounds 1-5 are isostructural except for pendant groups of the diols decorating the surface of channels. The adsorption of small gases (N₂, CO₂, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆) and larger hydrocarbons (benzene, cyclohexane) both in liquid and vapor phases was thoroughly investigated for all compounds. The zero-coverage adsorption enthalpies, Henry constants, and selectivity factors by various models are calculated and discussed. The versatile adsorption functionality of the title series results from the variable nature of the diol and could be tailored for a specific adsorbate system. For example, 1 shows excellent selectivity of benzene over cyclohexane (20:1 for vapors, 92:1 for liquid phase), while 4 demonstrates unprecedented adsorption preference of cyclohexane over benzene (selectivity up to 5:1). The compound 5 demonstrates great adsorption selectivity for CO₂/N₂ (up to 75.1), CO₂/CH₄ (up to 7.7), C₂H₂/CH₄ (up to 14.2), and C₂H₄/CH₄ (up to 9.4). Also, due to polar nature of the pores, 5 features size-selective sorption of alkaline metal cations in order Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ > Cs⁺ as well as a notable luminescent response for cesium(I) ions and urea.

Iron detection and remediation with a functionalized porous polymer applied to environmental water samples

Iron is one of the most abundant elements in the environment and in the human body. As an essential nutrient, iron homeostasis is tightly regulated, and iron dysregulation is implicated in numerous pathologies, including neuro-degenerative diseases, atherosclerosis, and diabetes. Endogenous iron pool concentrations are directly linked to iron ion uptake from environmental sources such as drinking water, providing motivation for developing new technologies for assessing iron(ii) and iron(iii) levels in water. However, conventional methods for measuring aqueous iron pools remain laborious and costly and often require sophisticated equipment and/or additional processing steps to remove the iron ions from the original environmental source. We now report a simplified and accurate chemical platform for capturing and quantifying the iron present in aqueous samples through use of a post-synthetically modified porous aromatic framework (PAF). The ether/thioether-functionalized network polymer, PAF-1-ET, exhibits high selectivity for the uptake of iron(ii) and iron(iii) over other physiologically and environmentally relevant metal ions. Mössbauer spectroscopy, XANES, and EXAFS measurements provide evidence to support iron(iii) coordination to oxygen-based ligands within the material. The polymer is further successfully employed to adsorb and remove iron ions from groundwater, including field sources in West Bengal, India. Combined with an 8-hydroxyquinoline colorimetric indicator, PAF-1-ET enables the simple and direct determination of the iron(ii) and iron(iii) ion concentrations in these samples, providing a starting point for the design and use of molecularly-functionalized porous materials for potential dual detection and remediation applications.

Novel Isophthalohydrazide-cDB24C8 cryptand derivative for the selective recognition of fluoride ion: An experimental and DFT study

A highly selective and sensitive novel Isophthalohydrazide-cDB24C8 cryptand derivative was developed for fluoride recognition at a very low concentration of 2.31 × 10^-10 M. The binding was established by UV-Vis, fluorescence and ¹H NMR titration. The receptor formed very strong H-bonded complex with fluoride, furnished a sharp new UV-Vis absorption peak at 280 nm which was also supported by the DFT-study. The fluorescence emission spectra showed large quenching up to 79.13% upon addition of fluoride.

A Multifunctional Nanocage-based MOF with Tri- and Tetranuclear Zinc Cluster Secondary Building Units

A new Zn-cluster based MOF, [Zn21(BTC)11(μ3-OH)3(μ4-O)3(H2O)18]·21EtOH (1) (H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid), with two different types of cluster nodes has been successfully synthesized from Zn2+ and H3BTC under the solvothermal conditions. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies reveal that 1 is a 3D trinodal (3,5,6)-c framework which features a large octahedral cage organized by nine Zn3O and nine Zn4O clusters SBUs and twenty-four triangular BTC3- linkers. The Eu3+/Tb3+-incorporated derivative of 1 with 0.251% Eu3+ and 0.269% Tb3+ exhibits tunable luminescence from yellow to white and then to blue-green by changing the excitation wavelength from 308 to 315 nm. Metal ion exchange with Cu2+ affords isomorphous Cu-based MOF with enhanced N2 and CO2 adsorption capacity. In addition, 1 can act as a selective luminescent sensor for Cu2+ and Al3+ ions.

Metal–organic frameworks based on octafluorobiphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylate: synthesis, crystal structure, and surface functionality

Six Zn coordination polymers have been synthesized and investigated in terms of their surface properties.