Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks

In the past two decades, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or porous coordination polymers (PCPs) assembled from metal ions or clusters and organic linkers via metal-ligand coordination bonds have captivated significant scientific interest on account of their high crystallinity, exceptional porosity, and tunable pore size, high modularity, and diverse functionality. The opportunity to achieve functional porous materials by design with promising properties, unattainable for solid-state materials in general, distinguishes MOFs from other classes of materials, in particular, traditional porous materials such as activated carbon, silica, and zeolites, thereby leading to complementary properties. Scientists have conducted intense research in the production of chiral MOF (CMOF) materials for specific applications including but not limited to chiral recognition, separation, and catalysis since the discovery of the first functional CMOF (i.e., d- or l-POST-1). At present, CMOFs have become interdisciplinary between chirality chemistry, coordination chemistry, and material chemistry, which involve in many subjects including chemistry, physics, optics, medicine, pharmacology, biology, crystal engineering, environmental science, etc. In this review, we will systematically summarize the recent progress of CMOFs regarding design strategies, synthetic approaches, and cutting-edge applications. In particular, we will highlight the successful implementation of CMOFs in asymmetric catalysis, enantioselective separation, enantioselective recognition, and sensing. We envision that this review will provide readers a good understanding of CMOF chemistry and, more importantly, facilitate research endeavors for the rational design of multifunctional CMOFs and their industrial implementation.

Three Pbx(COO)y Cluster Frameworks Based on a Flexible Triazinetricarboxylic Acid Ligand: Syntheses, Structures, and Fluorescent Sensing Application for Nitrophenols

Three new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), namely, [Pb₇(TTPCA)₄Cl₂]·3H₂O (1), [Pb₇(TTPCA)₄(DMA)₂(HCOO)₂]·H₂O (2), and [Pb₄(TTPCA)₃]·3DMF·2H₂O·H₃O (3), were synthesized by the H₃TTPCA ligand [H₃TTPCA = 1,1',1″-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)-tripiperidine-4-carboxylic acid], with lead(II) nitrate under solvothermal conditions. They were characterized by CHN analysis, IR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. In addition, their thermogravimetric analysis and fluorescence properties were studied. Compounds 1-3 were 3D MOF structures with different Pb_x(COO)_y clusters: ([Pb₇(COO)₁₂Cl₂]), ([Pb₇(COO)₁₂]), and [Pb₈(COO)₁₈]. Fluorescence detection of compounds 1-3 shows that they can act as excellent sensors of nitrophenols with a low limit of detection and a high quenching constant.

Homochiral metal-organic frameworks for enantioseparation

Obtaining homochiral compounds is of high importance to human health and environmental sustainability. Currently, enantioseparation is one of the most effective approaches to obtain homochiral compounds. Thanks to their controlled synthesis and high efficiency, homochiral metal-organic frameworks (HMOFs) are one of the most widely studied porous materials to enable enantioseparation. In this review, we discuss the chiral pocket model in depth as the key to unlock enantioselective separation mechanisms in HMOFs. In particular, we classify our discussion of these chiral pockets (also regarded as "molecular traps") into: (a) achiral/chiral linker based helical channels as a result of packing modality; and (b) chiral pores inherited from chiral ligands. Driven by a number of mechanisms of enantioseparation, conceptual advances have been recently made in the design of HMOFs for achieving high enantioseparation performances. Herein, these are systematically categorised and discussed. Further we elucidate various applications of HMOFs as regards enantioseparation, systematically classifying them into their use for purification and related analytical utility according to the reported examples. Last but not the least, we discuss the challenges and perspectives concerning the rational design of HMOFs and their corresponding enantioseparations.

Triazine Poly(carboxylic acid) Metal-Organic Frameworks and the Fluorescent Response with Lead Oxygen Clusters: [Pb7(COO)12X2] by Halogen Tuning (X = Cl, Br, or I)

A series of novel metal-organic frameworks were synthesized by using semirigid ligand 1,1',1″-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tripiperidine-4-carboxylic acid (H₃TTPCA) and lead halide (Cl, Br, or I). The three complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis demonstrated that all three complexes were three-dimensional inorganic-organic framework structures with Pb-X₂ (X = Cl, Br, or I). However, slight differences in the chemical environment were the focus of the coordinated halogen atoms and the different compositions of metal oxygen clusters: [Pb₇(COO)₁₂Cl₂], [Pb₇(COO)₁₂Br₂], and [Pb₇(COO)₁₂I₂]. Because of the fluorescence of the organic ligand, the three complexes showed similar photoluminescence properties at room temperature, but the intensity of emissions decreased gradually with an increase in the atomic radius of coordinated halogen atoms. Interestingly, in the fluorescence response tests, complexes 1 and 2 displayed an optical signal of fluorescence "turn-on" while complex 3 showed an optical signal of fluorescence "turn-off". Here we aim to provide a possible mechanism to explain these unique and contradictory luminescence results.