Felipe Gándara

Large-Pore Apertures in a Series of Metal-Organic Frameworks

Maximizing Molecular Pore Diameters Amorphous materials, such as activated carbon, can have pore diameters of several nanometers, but the synthesis of ordered structures with very large pore diameters is often thwarted by the creation of interpenetrating networks or difficulties in removing guest molecules. Deng et al. (p. 1018) avoided these problems in the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with very large diameters (some exceeding 3 nanometers) by using a combination of short and very long linking groups. The compounds formed channels almost 10 nanometers in diameter that could be visualized by electron microscopy and that were large enough to accommodate protein molecules. Metal-organic frameworks with hexagonal channel pores up to almost 100 angstroms in diameter have been synthesized. We report a strategy to expand the pore aperture of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into a previously unattained size regime (>32 angstroms). Specifically, the systematic expansion of a well-known MOF structure, MOF-74, from its original link of one phenylene ring (I) to two, three, four, five, six, seven, nine, and eleven (II to XI, respectively), afforded an isoreticular series of MOF-74 structures (termed IRMOF-74-I to XI) with pore apertures ranging from 14 to 98 angstroms. All members of this series have noninterpenetrating structures and exhibit robust architectures, as evidenced by their permanent porosity and high thermal stability (up to 300°C). The pore apertures of an oligoethylene glycol–functionalized IRMOF-74-VII and IRMOF-74-IX are large enough for natural proteins to enter the pores.

Water Adsorption in Porous Metal–Organic Frameworks and Related Materials

Water adsorption in porous materials is important for many applications such as dehumidification, thermal batteries, and delivery of drinking water in remote areas. In this study, we have identified three criteria for achieving high performing porous materials for water adsorption. These criteria deal with condensation pressure of water in the pores, uptake capacity, and recyclability and water stability of the material. In search of an excellently performing porous material, we have studied and compared the water adsorption properties of 23 materials, 20 of which are metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Among the MOFs are 10 zirconium(IV) MOFs with a subset of these, MOF-801-SC (single crystal form), -802, -805, -806, -808, -812, and -841 reported for the first time. MOF-801-P (microcrystalline powder form) was reported earlier and studied here for its water adsorption properties. MOF-812 was only made and structurally characterized but not examined for water adsorption because it is a byproduct of MOF-841 synthesis. All the new zirconium MOFs are made from the Zr6O4(OH)4(-CO2)n secondary building units (n = 6, 8, 10, or 12) and variously shaped carboxyl organic linkers to make extended porous frameworks. The permanent porosity of all 23 materials was confirmed and their water adsorption measured to reveal that MOF-801-P and MOF-841 are the highest performers based on the three criteria stated above; they are water stable, do not lose capacity after five adsorption/desorption cycles, and are easily regenerated at room temperature. An X-ray single-crystal study and a powder neutron diffraction study reveal the position of the water adsorption sites in MOF-801 and highlight the importance of the intermolecular interaction between adsorbed water molecules within the pores.

Synthesis, Structure, and Metalation of Two New Highly Porous Zirconium Metal–Organic Frameworks

Three new metal-organic frameworks [MOF-525, Zr(6)O(4)(OH)(4)(TCPP-H(2))(3); MOF-535, Zr(6)O(4)(OH)(4)(XF)(3); MOF-545, Zr(6)O(8)(H(2)O)(8)(TCPP-H(2))(2), where porphyrin H(4)-TCPP-H(2) = (C(48)H(24)O(8)N(4)) and cruciform H(4)-XF = (C(42)O(8)H(22))] based on two new topologies, ftw and csq, have been synthesized and structurally characterized. MOF-525 and -535 are composed of Zr(6)O(4)(OH)(4) cuboctahedral units linked by either porphyrin (MOF-525) or cruciform (MOF-535). Another zirconium-containing unit, Zr(6)O(8)(H(2)O)(8), is linked by porphyrin to give the MOF-545 structure. The structure of MOF-525 was obtained by analysis of powder X-ray diffraction data. The structures of MOF-535 and -545 were resolved from synchrotron single-crystal data. MOF-525, -535, and -545 have Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface areas of 2620, 1120, and 2260 m(2)/g, respectively. In addition to their large surface areas, both porphyrin-containing MOFs are exceptionally chemically stable, maintaining their structures under aqueous and organic conditions. MOF-525 and -545 were metalated with iron(III) and copper(II) to yield the metalated analogues without losing their high surface area and chemical stability.

Chemistry of Covalent Organic Frameworks

Linking organic molecules by covalent bonds into extended solids typically generates amorphous, disordered materials. The ability to develop strategies for obtaining crystals of such solids is of interest because it opens the way for precise control of the geometry and functionality of the extended structure, and the stereochemical orientation of its constituents. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a new class of porous covalent organic structures whose backbone is composed entirely of light elements (B, C, N, O, Si) that represent a successful demonstration of how crystalline materials of covalent solids can be achieved. COFs are made by combination of organic building units covalently linked into extended structures to make crystalline materials. The attainment of crystals is done by several techniques in which a balance is struck between the thermodynamic reversibility of the linking reactions and their kinetics. This success has led to the expansion of COF materials to include organic units linked by these strong covalent bonds: B-O, C-N, B-N, and B-O-Si. Since the organic constituents of COFs, when linked, do not undergo significant change in their overall geometry, it has been possible to predict the structures of the resulting COFs, and this advantage has facilitated their characterization using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) techniques. It has also allowed for the synthesis of COF structures by design and for their formation with the desired composition, pore size, and aperture. In practice, the modeled PXRD pattern for a given expected COF is compared with the experimental one, and depending on the quality of the match, this is used as a starting point for solving and then refining the crystal structure of the target COF. These characteristics make COFs an attractive class of new porous materials. Accordingly, they have been used as gas storage materials for energy applications, solid supports for catalysis, and optoelectronic devices. A large and growing library of linkers amenable to the synthesis of COFs is now available, and new COFs and topologies made by reticular synthesis are being reported. Much research is also directed toward the development of new methods of linking organic building units to generate other crystalline COFs. These efforts promise not only new COF chemistry and materials, but also the chance to extend the precision of molecular covalent chemistry to extended solids.

High Methane Storage Capacity in Aluminum Metal-Organic Frameworks

The use of porous materials to store natural gas in vehicles requires large amounts of methane per unit of volume. Here we report the synthesis, crystal structure and methane adsorption properties of two new aluminum metal–organic frameworks, MOF-519 and MOF-520. Both materials exhibit permanent porosity and high methane volumetric storage capacity: MOF-519 has a volumetric capacity of 200 and 279 cm3 cm–3 at 298 K and 35 and 80 bar, respectively, and MOF-520 has a volumetric capacity of 162 and 231 cm3 cm–3 under the same conditions. Furthermore, MOF-519 exhibits an exceptional working capacity, being able to deliver a large amount of methane at pressures between 5 and 35 bar, 151 cm3 cm–3, and between 5 and 80 bar, 230 cm3 cm–3.

Metal-Organic Frameworks with Precisely Designed Interior for Carbon Dioxide Capture in the Presence of Water

The selective capture of carbon dioxide in the presence of water is an outstanding challenge. Here, we show that the interior of IRMOF-74-III can be covalently functionalized with primary amine (IRMOF-74-III-CH2NH2) and used for the selective capture of CO2 in 65% relative humidity. This study encompasses the synthesis, structural characterization, gas adsorption, and CO2 capture properties of variously functionalized IRMOF-74-III compounds (IRMOF-74-III-CH3, -NH2, -CH2NHBoc, -CH2NMeBoc, -CH2NH2, and -CH2NHMe). Cross-polarization magic angle spinning (13)C NMR spectra showed that CO2 binds chemically to IRMOF-74-III-CH2NH2 and -CH2NHMe to make carbamic species. Carbon dioxide isotherms and breakthrough experiments show that IRMOF-74-III-CH2NH2 is especially efficient at taking up CO2 (3.2 mmol of CO2 per gram at 800 Torr) and, more significantly, removing CO2 from wet nitrogen gas streams with breakthrough time of 610 ± 10 s g(-1) and full preservation of the IRMOF structure.

Synthesis and Characterization of Metal–Organic Framework-74 Containing 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 Different Metals

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) containing more than two kinds of metal ions mixed in one secondary building unit are rare because the synthesis often yields mixed MOF phases rather than a pure phase of a mixed-metal MOF (MM-MOF). In this study, we use a one-pot reaction to make microcrystalline MOF-74 [M2(DOT); DOT = dioxidoterephthalate] with 2 (Mg and Co), 4 (Mg, Co, Ni, and Zn), 6 (Mg, Sr, Mn, Co, Ni, and Zn), 8 (Mg, Ca, Sr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn), and 10 (Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, and Cd) different kinds of divalent metals. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns of MM-MOF-74 were identical with those of single-metal MOF-74, and no amorphous phases were found by scanning electron microscopy. The successful preparation of guest-free MM-MOF-74 samples was confirmed by N2 adsorption measurements. Elemental analysis data also support the fact that all metal ions used in the MOF synthesis are incorporated within the same MOF-74 structure. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopies indicate that metal ions are heterogeneously distributed within each of the crystalline particles. This approach is also employed to incorporate metal ions (i.e., Ca, Sr, Ba, and Cd) from which the parent MOF structure could not be made as a single-metal-containing MOF.

Selective capture of carbon dioxide under humid conditions by hydrophobic chabazite-type zeolitic imidazolate frameworks.

Hydrophobic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with the chabazite (CHA) topology are synthesized by incorporating two distinct imidazolate links. Zn(2-mIm)0.86 (bbIm)1.14 (ZIF-300), Zn(2-mIm)0.94 (cbIm)1.06 (ZIF-301), and Zn(2-mIm)0.67 (mbIm)1.33 (ZIF-302), where 2-mIm = 2-methylimidazolate, bbIm = 5(6)-bromobenzimidazolate, cbIm = 5(6)-chlorobenzimidazolate, and mbIm = 5(6)-methylbenzimidazolate, were prepared by reacting zinc nitrate tetrahydrate and 2-mIm with the respective bIm link in a mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and water. Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and their permanent porosity shown. All of these structures are hydrophobic as confirmed by water adsorption isotherms. All three ZIFs are equally effective at the dynamic separation of CO2 from N2 under both dry and humid conditions without any loss of performance over three cycles and can be regenerated simply by using a N2 flow at ambient temperature.

Superacidity in Sulfated Metal–Organic Framework-808

Superacids, defined as acids with a Hammett acidity function H0 ≤ -12, are useful materials, but a need exists for new, designable solid state systems. Here, we report superacidity in a sulfated metal-organic framework (MOF) obtained by treating the microcrystalline form of MOF-808 [MOF-808-P: Zr6O5(OH)3(BTC)2(HCOO)5(H2O)2, BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate] with aqueous sulfuric acid to generate its sulfated analogue, MOF-808-2.5SO4 [Zr6O5(OH)3(BTC)2(SO4)2.5(H2O)2.5]. This material has a Hammett acidity function H0 ≤ -14.5 and is thus identified as a superacid, providing the first evidence for superacidity in MOFs. The superacidity is attributed to the presence of zirconium-bound sulfate groups structurally characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Metal–Organic Frameworks of Vanadium as Catalysts for Conversion of Methane to Acetic Acid

A catalytic system combining the high activity of homogeneous catalysts and the ease of use of heterogeneous catalysts for methane activation is reported. The vanadium-containing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) MIL-47 and MOF-48 are found to have high catalytic activity and chemical stability. They convert methane selectively to acetic acid with 70% yield (490 TON) based on K(2)S(2)O(8) as an oxidant. Isotopic labeling experiments showed that two methane molecules are converted to the produced acetic acid. The MOF catalysts are reusable and remain catalytically active for several recycling steps without losing their crystalline structures.