Unique Coordination-Based Heterometallic Approach for the Stoichiometric Inclusion of High-Valent Metal Ions in a Porous Metal–Organic Framework

Chemical complexity for targeted function in heterometallic titanium-organic frameworks

Research on metal-organic frameworks is shifting from the principles that control the assembly, structure, and porosity of these reticular solids, already established, into more sophisticated concepts that embrace chemical complexity as a tool for encoding their function or accessing new properties by exploiting the combination of different components (organic and inorganic) into these networks. The possibility of combining multiple linkers into a given network for multivariate solids with tunable properties dictated by the nature and distribution of the organic connectors across the solid has been well demonstrated. However, the combination of different metals remains still comparatively underexplored due to the difficulties in controlling the nucleation of heterometallic metal-oxo clusters during the assembly of the framework or the post-synthetic incorporation of metals with distinct chemistry. This possibility is even more challenging for titanium-organic frameworks due to the additional difficulties intrinsic to controlling the chemistry of titanium in solution. In this perspective article we provide an overview of the synthesis and advanced characterization of mixed-metal frameworks and emphasize the particularities of those based in titanium with particular focus on the use of additional metals to modify their function by controlling their reactivity in the solid state, tailoring their electronic structure and photocatalytic activity, enabling synergistic catalysis, directing the grafting of small molecules or even unlocking the formation of mixed oxides with stoichiometries not accessible to conventional routes.

A robust and porous titanium metal-organic framework for gas adsorption, CO2 capture and conversion

A robust and porous titanium metal-organic framework (Ti-MOF; LCU-402) has been hydrothermally synthesized through combining a tetranuclear Ti2Ca2(μ3-O)2(μ2-H2O)1.3(H2O)4(O2C-)8 cluster and a tritopic 1,3,5-benzene(tris)benzoic (BTB) ligand. LCU-402 shows remarkable stability and permanent porosity for CO2, CH4, C2H2, C2H4, and C2H6 gas adsorption. Moreover, LCU-402 as a heterogeneous catalyst can smoothly convert CO2 under a simulated flue atmosphere into organic carbonate molecules by cycloaddition reactions of CO2 and epoxides, indicating that LCU-402 might be a promising catalyst candidate in practical applications. We are confident that the identification of a persistent titanium-oxo building unit would accelerate the development of new porous Ti-MOF materials.

Construction of Titanium-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks Based on the Ti/Cu Heteronuclear Cluster

Presented here are two titanium-based metal-organic frameworks (Ti-MOFs) based on well-defined [Ti₆Cu₆(μ₃-O)₂(μ₂-O)₉(HSO₄)₂(SO₄)₆], which can be easily obtained from a cheap Ti source and CuSO₄ and exhibited interesting magnetic properties. Furthermore, this clusters can be isolated in pure phase. Numerous uncoordinated sites of SO₄ and labile ligands on the Ti and Cu centers of this cluster make it a good candidate as a secondary building unit to construct various Ti-MOFs in the future.

Mixed-metal metal–organic frameworks

Mixed-metal MOFs contain at least 2 different metal ions presenting promising potential in heterogeneous catalysis, gas sorption/separation, luminescence and sensing.

The chemistry of titanium-based metal–organic frameworks

The chemistry of Ti-based MOFs, including their synthetic methods, crystal structures, topological evaluation, and promising applications, is precisely summarized and discussed.

Titanium coordination compounds: from discrete metal complexes to metal–organic frameworks

Recent advances in titanium based MOFs and relevant titanium molecular compounds will be discussed in this review. Particular attention will be devoted to their promising photoredox properties.

A Flexible Photoactive Titanium Metal-Organic Framework Based on a [Ti(IV)3(μ3-O)(O)2(COO)6] Cluster

The synthesis of titanium-carboxylate metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is hampered by the high reactivity of the commonly employed alkoxide precursors. Herein, we present an innovative approach to titanium-based MOFs by the use of titanocene dichloride to synthesize COK-69, the first breathing Ti MOF, which is built up from trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate linkers and an unprecedented [Ti(IV)3(μ3-O)(O)2(COO)6] cluster. The photoactive properties of COK-69 were investigated in depth by proton-coupled electron-transfer experiments, which revealed that up to one Ti(IV) center per cluster can be photoreduced to Ti(III) while preserving the structural integrity of the framework. The electronic structure of COK-69 was determined by molecular modeling, and a band gap of 3.77 eV was found.

High-nuclearity silver(I) cluster-based coordination polymers assembled with multidentate oligo-α-heteroarylsulfanyl ligands

Two novel coordination polymers [Ag16(SO4)8][Ag4(SO4)2]3(L1)12·nH2O (n = 72) (1) and [Ag10(SO4)5(L2)4(H2O)2]·8H2O (2) based on conformationally variable oligo-α-heteroarylsulfanyl ligands 2-(pyrazin-2-ylthio)-6-(pyridin-2-ylthio)pyrazine (L1) or 2,6-bis(pyrazin-2-ylthio)pyrazine (L2) and sulfate-templated high-nuclearity Ag(I) clusters as structure-building units (SBUs) have been synthesized under mild conditions. Single-crystal X-ray analysis showed that complex 1 exhibits a porous three-dimensional framework containing Ag16(SO4)8 and Ag4(SO4)2 SBUs that are interconnected by L1 ligands, whereas 2 has a much denser network constructed from Ag10(SO4)5 SBUs and L2 linkers. To our knowledge, the Ag16(SO4)8 cluster core found in 1 is the largest sulfate-based polynuclear SBU in coordination polymers, and the 14-connected Ag10(SO4)5 in 2 is the highest-connectivity Ag(I) cluster SBU reported to date. These two complexes were fully characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry.

A p-type Ti(iv)-based metal–organic framework with visible-light photo-response

Photoelectrochemical studies on a new Ti(iv)-based porous metal–organic framework (NTU-9, bandgap 1.72 eV) indicated that NTU-9 is a p-type semiconductor with visible-light-driven photoactivity.