A Series of Lanthanide-Based Cluster Organic Frameworks Made of Heptanuclear Trigonal-Prismatic Cluster Units

Self-Assembly of Lanthanide-Aluminum Cluster-Organic Frameworks with Magnetocaloric Effect and Luminescence

The self-assembly of the lanthanide metal-organic frameworks presents a formidable challenge but profound significance. Compared with the metal-organic frameworks based on 4f-3d ions, the chemistry of 4f-3p metal-organic frameworks has not been fully explored so far. In this study, two lanthanide-aluminum-based clusters [Ln6Al(IN)10(μ3-OH)5(μ3-O)3(H2O)8]·xH2O (x = 2, Ln = Gd, abbreviated as Gd6Al; x = 2.5, Ln = Eu, abbreviated as Eu6Al; HIN = isonicotinic acid) have been meticulously designed and obtained by hydrothermal reaction at low pH. The crystallographic study revealed that both Gd6Al and Eu6Al clusters exhibit an unprecedented sandwiched metal-organic framework holding a highly ordered honeycomb network. To our knowledge, it is the first case of Ln-Al-based cluster-organic frameworks. Furthermore, magnetic investigation of Gd6Al manifests a decent magnetic entropy change of -ΔSmmax = 28.8 J kg-1 K-1 at 2 K for ΔH = 7.0 T. Significantly, the introduction of AlIII ions into the lanthanide metal-organic frameworks displays excellent solid-state luminescent capability with a lifetime of 371.6 μs and quantum yield of 6.64%. The construction and investigation of these two Ln-Al clusters represent great progress in the 4f-3p metal-organic framework.

An Aryl-ether-linked Covalent Organic Framework Modified with Thioamide Groups for Selective Extraction of Palladium from Strong Acid Solutions

Efficient adsorption of palladium ions from acid nuclear waste solution is crucial for ensuring the safety of vitrification process for radioactive waste. However, the limited stability and selectivity of most current adsorbents hinder their practical applications under strong acid and intense radiation conditions. Herein, to address these limitations, we designed and synthesized an aryl-ether-linked covalent organic framework (COF-316-DM) grafted dimethylthiocarbamoyl groups on the pore walls. This unique structure endows COF-316-DM with high stability and exceptional palladium capture capacity. The robust polyarylether linkage enables COF-316-DM to withstand irradiation doses of 200 or 400 kGy of β/γ ray. Furthermore, COF-316-DM demonstrates fast adsorption kinetics, high adsorption capacity (147 mg g-1 ), and excellent reusability in 4 M nitric acid. Moreover, COF-316-DM exhibits remarkable selectivity for palladium ions in the presence of 17 interference ions, simulating high level liquid waste scenario. The superior adsorption performance can be attributed to the strong binding affinity between the thioamide groups and Pd2+ ions, as confirmed by the comprehensive analysis of FT-IR and XPS spectra. Our findings highlight the potential of COFs with robust linkers and tailored functional groups for efficient and selective capture of metal ions, even in harsh environmental conditions.

Inner transition metal-modulated metal organic frameworks (IT-MOFs) and their derived nanomaterials: a strategic approach towards stupendous photocatalysis

Photocatalysis, as an amenable and effective process, can be adopted for pollution remediation and to alleviate the ongoing energy crisis. In this case, recently, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted increasing attention in the field of photocatalysis owning to their unique characteristics including large specific surface area, tuneable pore architecture, mouldable framework composition, tuneable band structure, and exceptional photon absorption tendency complimented with superior anti-recombination of excitons. Among the plethora of frameworks, inner transition metal based-MOFs (IT-MOFs) have started to garner significant traction as photocatalysts due to their distinct characteristics compared to conventional transition metal-based frameworks. Typically, IT-MOFs have the tendency to generate high nuclearity clusters and possess abundant Lewis acidic sites, together with mixed valency, which aids in easily converting redox couples, thereby making them a suitable candidate for various photocatalytic reactions. Therefore, in this contribution, we aim to summarise the excellent photocatalytic performance of IT-MOFs and their composites accompanied by a thorough discussion of their topological changes with a variation in the structure of the metal cluster, fabrication routes, morphological features, and physico-chemical properties together with a brief discussion of computational findings. Moreover, we attempt to explore the scientific understanding of the functionalities of IT-MOFs and their composites with detailed mechanistic pathways for in-depth clarity towards photocatalysis. Furthermore, we present a comprehensive analysis of IT-MOFs for various crucial photocatalytic applications such as H₂/O₂ evolution, organic pollutant degradation, organic transformation, and N₂ and CO₂ reduction. In addition, we discuss the measures employed to enhance their performance with some future directions to address the challenges with IT-MOF-based nanomaterials.

Expanding the Structural Topologies of Rare-Earth Porphyrinic Metal-Organic Frameworks through Ligand Modulation

Expanding the structural diversity of porphyrinic metal-organic frameworks (PMOFs) is essential to develop functional materials with novel properties or enhanced performance in different applications. Herein, we establish a strategy to construct rare-earth (RE) PMOFs with unprecedented topology via rational functionalization of porphyrinic ligands. By introducing phenyl/pyridyl groups to the meso-positions of the porphyrin core, the symmetries and connectivities of the ligands are tuned, and three RE-PMOFs (BUT-224/-225/-226) with new topologies are successfully obtained. In addition, BUT-225(Co), with both the Lewis basic and acidic sites, exhibits enhanced CO₂ uptake and higher catalytic activity for the cycloaddition of CO₂ and epoxides under mild conditions. This work reveals that the RE-PMOFs with novel topologies can be rationally designed and constructed through ligand functionalization, which provides insights into the construction of tailored PMOFs for various applications.

Rare-earth metal–organic frameworks: from structure to applications

In the past 30 years, rare-earth metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been gaining attention owing to their diverse chemical structures, and tunable properties.

Three novel topologically different metal–organic frameworks built from 3-nitro-4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoic acid

The design and synthesis of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted much interest due to the intriguing diversity of their architectures and topologies. However, building MOFs with different topological structures from the same ligand is still a challenge. Using 3-nitro-4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoic acid (HL) as a new ligand, three novel MOFs, namely poly[[(N,N-dimethylformamide-κO)bis[μ2-3-nitro-4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoato-κ3 O,O′:N]cadmium(II)] N,N-dimethylformamide monosolvate methanol monosolvate], {[Cd(C12H7N2O4)2(C3H7NO)]·C3H7NO·CH3OH} n , (1), poly[[(μ2-acetato-κ2 O:O′)[μ3-3-nitro-4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoato-κ3 O:O′:N]bis[μ3-3-nitro-4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoato-κ4 O,O′:O′:N]dicadmium(II)] N,N-dimethylacetamide disolvate monohydrate], {[Cd2(C12H7N2O4)3(CH3CO2)]·2C4H9NO·H2O} n , (2), and catena-poly[[[diaquanickel(II)]-bis[μ2-3-nitro-4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoato-κ2 O:N]] N,N-dimethylacetamide disolvate], {[Ni(C12H7N2O4)2(H2O)2]·2C4H9NO} n , (3), have been prepared. Single-crystal structure analysis shows that the CdII atom in MOF (1) has a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal [CdN2O5] coordination geometry. The [CdN2O5] units as 4-connected nodes are interconnected by L − ligands to form a fourfold interpenetrating three-dimensional (3D) framework with a dia topology. In MOF (2), there are two crystallographically different CdII ions showing a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal [CdNO6] and a distorted octahedral [CdN2O4] coordination geometry, respectively. Two CdII ions are connected by three carboxylate groups to form a binuclear [Cd2(COO)3] cluster. Each binuclear cluster as a 6-connected node is further linked by acetate groups and L − ligands to produce a non-interpenetrating 3D framework with a pcu topology. MOF (3) contains two crystallographically distinct NiII ions on special positions. Each NiII ion adopts an elongated octahedral [NiN2O4] geometry. Each NiII ion as a 4-connected node is linked by L − ligands to generate a two-dimensional network with an sql topology, which is further stabilized by two types of intermolecular OW—HW...O hydrogen bonds to form a 3D supramolecular framework. MOFs (1)–(3) were also characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetic analysis. Furthermore, the solid-state photoluminescence of HL and MOFs (1) and (2) have been investigated. The photoluminescence of MOFs (1) and (2) are enhanced and red-shifted with respect to free HL. The gas adsorption investigation of MOF (2) indicates a good separation selectivity (71) of CO2/N2 at 273 K (i.e. the amount of CO2 adsorption is 71 times higher than N2 at the same pressure).

Induced Aggregation and Synergistic Coordination Strategy in Cluster Organic Architectures

Developments in strategies for the synthesis of oxo-hydroxo lanthanide (Ln) clusters during the past few decades have resulted in abundant relevant crystalline materials that exhibit attractive structures and interesting properties. The combination of these oxo-hydroxo Ln clusters and organic ligands has led to the formation of new extended arrays of Ln cluster organic frameworks (LnCOFs). In contrast to metal-organic frameworks, the incorporation of particular characteristics of clusters provides the opportunity to develop performances not available in single-metal compounds. Even with steady advances in oxo-hydroxo Ln clusters, progress in LnCOFs is less developed. To obtain LnCOFs, one premise is to induce the oxophilic Ln ions undergoing aggregation. Meanwhile, the organic ligands should have extra coordination sites for further expansion. Multidentate organic ligands like pyrazinecarboxylic acid and pyridinecarboxylic acid containing O and N donors will meet these two requirements. Their carboxyl groups will induce the aggregation of Ln ions, while the N donors can serve as potential extension sites. To make more open frameworks or if the oxo-hydroxo Ln clusters fail to be congregated or connected, then a second ligand is necessary. The introduction of the suitable second ligand may occupy a partial coordination sphere of Ln ions and ultimately benefit the connection process. In this Account, we introduce the origin and evolution of the induced aggregation and synergistic coordination strategy. According to the attributes of the organic ligands in the documented LnCOFs, we classify them into linear and nonlinear groups in the second and third parts. From the aspect of ligand-induced aggregation, isonicotinic acid (HIN) and lengthened 4-(4-pyridyl)benzoic acid (HPBA) ligands as well as their nonlinear analogues are settled as typical models. From the aspect of synergistic coordination, chelating ligands like 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (1,2-H₂BDC) and acetic acid (HOAc) play significant roles. Moreover, three types of synergistic coordination are discussed in detail: synergistic coordination between two types of organic ligands, synergistic coordination between organic and inorganic ligands, and simultaneous synergistic coordination of aforementioned two types. From the aspect of LnCOF products, in addition to traditional pure LnCOFs, new types of heterometallic frameworks containing two types of cluster building units have been developed. Although this Account focuses on the nuclearity and coordination aspects of LnCOFs, we anticipate that it will stimulate more efforts in the further study of their properties beyond the exploratory synthesis. More importantly, synergistic coordination may be applied to other systems and inspire crystal design and targeted assembly of new functional materials.

A new ZnII coordination polymer based on 4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoic and formic acids: in-situ synthesis, crystal structure and luminescence properties

The title compound, poly[(μ2-formato-κ3 O,O′:O)[μ2-4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoato-κ3 N:O,O′]zinc(II)], [Zn(C12H8NO2)(HCOO)] n , has been synthesized in situ and characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analyses. The polymer contains two independent structural units in the asymmetric unit. These are constructed from Zn2+ ions, 4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoate (4-pbc) bridges and in-situ-generated formate ligands, forming two similar two-dimensional (2D) layer structures. These similar 2D layers are arranged alternately and are linked with each other by dense C—H...O hydrogen bonds to generate a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular framework. The crystal is pseudomerohedrally twinned about [201]. Compared with free 4-Hpbc, the polymer exhibits a red shift and significantly enhanced solid-state luminescence properties.

Three Cluster Organic Frameworks Constructed from Tetranuclear Cluster Units: Structure and Properties

By treating a semirigid 5-oxyacetate isophthalic acid (H₃ OAIP) ligand with MnSO₄ /CoSO₄ /CdSO₄ under solvothermal conditions, three isostructural cluster organic frameworks, [M₂ (OH)(OAIP)(DMA)]⋅H₂ O (M=Mn²⁺ (1), Co²⁺ (2), Cd²⁺ (3); DMA=N,N'-dimethylacetamide) were constructed. The three complexes contain novel eight-connected tetranuclear M₄ (OH)₂ (COO)₆ (OCH₂ COO)₂ clusters with the unique hexagonal bipyramidal configuration, which are extended by four-connected OAIP linkers to form an uncommon (4,8)-connected alb-4,8-Cmce topology based on (3,6)-connected kgd sublayers. Both 1 and 2 showed significant antiferromagnetic interactions between the intracluster metal ions, whereas 3 revealed strong blue photoluminescence.

pH-Dependent Self-Assembly of Ladder-Like Lanthanide Chains with Copper(I) Halide Clusters

Through adjustment of the pH value of the reaction system, two series of 3 D lanthanide(III)-copper(I) coordination polymers, namely [Ln₂ (na)₇ Cu₆ Br₅ (H₂ O)₂ ] [Ln=La (1), Ce (2), Pr (3), Nd (4), Sm (5), Eu (6), Gd (7), Tb (8)] and [La₂ (na)₇ Cu₃ Br₂ (H₂ O)₂ ]⋅H₂ O (9) (na^- =nicotinate), are synthesized hydrothermally and characterized fully. It is worth nothing that these two series of heterometallic compounds are constructed from similar ladder-like Ln-organic chains, but different copper(I) halide clusters. The luminescence properties of the compounds with Nd (4), Eu (6), and Tb (8) are also investigated.

Halogen dependent symmetry change in two series of wheel cluster organic frameworks built from La18 tertiary building units

Two series of wheel cluster organic frameworks (WCOFs) built from La18 tertiary building units are hydrothermally made, which show halogen-dependent structural symmetry, and demonstrate different chiral performances.

Double-malate bridging tri-lanthanoid cluster encapsulated arsenotungstates: syntheses, structures, luminescence and magnetic properties

Five members of a new family of POM-ligated double-malate bridging tri-lanthanoid clusters have been synthesized and characterized.

Tuning the topology structures of polymolybdate-based hybrids from interpenetrated framework to interdigitated architecture via changing polymolybdate clusters

Three distinct hybrids were synthesized by modulating polyoxomolybdates, which suggests that both the size and the charge of polyoxometalates play a key role in the assembling.

Magnetism of linear [Ln3](9+) oxo-bridged clusters (Ln = Pr, Nd) supported inside a [R3PR'](+) phosphonium coordination material

Two new isostructural phosphine coordination materials, Ln-PCM-21 (Ln = Pr, Nd), have been obtained using a tris(p-carboxylated) methyltriphenylphosphonium ligand that is formally dianionic when triply deprotonated, allowing access to materials based on uncommon metal-to-ligand ratios. The polymers of the formula [Ln3(mptbc)4]X·solv (X = Cl(-), NO3(-)) are cationic and contain unusual, linear oxo-bridged [Ln3](9+) clusters. Magnetic susceptibility data for both the Pr and Nd analogues has been compared to models based on three contrasting approaches.