Synthesis of a Chiral 3,6T22-Zn-MOF with a T-Shaped Bifunctional Pyrazole-Isophthalate Ligand Following the Principles of the Supramolecular Building Layer Approach

The metal–organic framework (MOF) [Zn(Isa-az-tmpz)]·~1–1.5 DMF with the novel T-shaped bifunctional linker 5-(2-(1,3,5-trimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)azo)isophthalate (Isa-az-tmpz) was obtained as a conglomerate of crystals with varying degrees of enantiomeric excess in the chiral tetragonal space groups P4₃2₁2 or P4₁2₁2. A topological analysis of the compound resulted in the rare 3,6T22-topology, deviating from the expected rtl-topology, which has been found before in pyrazolate-isophthalate-functionalized MOFs using the supramolecular building layer (SBL) approach. 3,6T22-[Zn(Isa-az-tmpz)]·~1–1.5 DMF is a potentially porous, three-dimensional structure with DMF molecules included in the corrugated channels along the a and b-axis of the as synthesized material. The small trigonal cross-section of about 6 × 4 Å (considering the van der Waals surface) prevents the access of N₂ and Ar under cryogenic conditions. After activation, only smaller H₂ (at 87 K) and CO₂ (at 195 K) are allowed for gas uptakes of 2 mmol g^–1 and 5.4 mmol g^–1, respectively, in the ultramicroporous material, for which a BET surface area of 496 m²·g^–1 was calculated from CO₂ adsorption. Thermogravimetric analysis of the compound shows a thermal stability of up to 400 °C.

Spiers Memorial Lecture: Coordination networks that switch between nonporous and porous structures: an emerging class of soft porous crystals

Coordination networks (CNs) are a class of (usually) crystalline solids typically comprised of metal ions or cluster nodes linked into 2 or 3 dimensions by organic and/or inorganic linker ligands. Whereas CNs tend to exhibit rigid structures and permanent porosity as exemplified by most metal-organic frameworks, MOFs, there exists a small but growing class of CNs that can undergo extreme, reversible structural transformation(s) when exposed to gases, vapours or liquids. These "soft" or "stimuli-responsive" CNs were introduced two decades ago and are attracting increasing attention thanks to two features: the amenability of CNs to design from first principles, thereby enabling crystal engineering of families of related CNs; and the potential utility of soft CNs for adsorptive storage and separation. A small but growing subset of soft CNs exhibit reversible phase transformations between nonporous (closed) and porous (open) structures. These "switching CNs" are distinguished by stepped sorption isotherms coincident with phase transformation and, perhaps counterintuitively, they can exhibit benchmark properties with respect to working capacity (storage) and selectivity (separation). This review addresses fundamental and applied aspects of switching CNs through surveying their sorption properties, analysing the structural transformations that enable switching, discussing structure-function relationships and presenting design principles for crystal engineering of the next generation of switching CNs.

Increase of network hydrophilicity from sql to lvt supramolecular isomers of Cu-MOFs with the bifunctional 4-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzoate linker

A slight difference in the H-bonding of the linker pyrazole-NH group changes the framework hydrophilicity drastically.

Tuning the Gate-Opening Pressure in a Switching pcu Coordination Network, X-pcu-5-Zn, by Pillar-Ligand Substitution

Coordination networks that reversibly switch between closed and open phases are of topical interest since their stepped isotherms can offer higher working capacities for gas-storage applications than the related rigid porous coordination networks. To be of practical utility, the pressures at which switching occurs, the gate-opening and gate-closing pressures, must lie between the storage and delivery pressures. Here we study the effect of linker substitution to fine-tune gate-opening and gate-closing pressure. Specifically, three variants of a previously reported pcu-topology MOF, X-pcu-5-Zn, have been prepared: X-pcu-6-Zn, 6=1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpe), X-pcu-7-Zn, 7=1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)acetylene (bpa), and X-pcu-8-Zn, 8=4,4'-azopyridine (apy). Each exhibited switching isotherms but at different gate-opening pressures. The N₂ , CO₂ , C₂ H₂ , and C₂ H₄ adsorption isotherms consistently indicated that the most flexible dipyridyl organic linker, 6, afforded lower gate-opening and gate-closing pressures. This simple design principle enables a rational control of the switching behavior in adsorbent materials.