Crystalline metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are formed by reticular synthesis, which creates strong bonds between inorganic and organic units. Careful selection of MOF constituents can yield crystals of ultrahigh porosity and high thermal and chemical stability. These characteristics allow the interior of MOFs to be chemically altered for use in gas separation, gas storage, and catalysis, among other applications. The precision commonly exercised in their chemical modification and the ability to expand their metrics without changing the underlying topology have not been achieved with other solids. MOFs whose chemical composition and shape of building units can be multiply varied within a particular structure already exist and may lead to materials that offer a synergistic combination of properties.

The Chemistry and Applications of Metal-Organic Frameworks

From molecules to crystal engineering: supramolecular isomerism and polymorphism in network solids.

Metal–Organic Frameworks for Separations

This critical review will be of interest to the experts in porous solids (including catalysis), but also solid state chemists and physicists. It presents the state-of-the-art on hybrid porous solids, their advantages, their new routes of synthesis, the structural concepts useful for their ‘design’, aiming at reaching very large pores. Their dynamic properties and the possibility of predicting their structure are described. The large tunability of the pore size leads to unprecedented properties and applications. They concern adsorption of species, storage and delivery and the physical properties of the dense phases. (323 references)

Hybrid porous solids: past, present, future

A geometrical analysis has been performed on π–π stacking in metal complexes with aromatic nitrogen-containing ligands based on a Cambridge Structural Database search and on X-ray data of examples in the recent literature. It is evident that a face-to-face π–π alignment where most of the ring-plane area overlaps is a rare phenomenon. The usual π interaction is an offset or slipped stacking, i.e. the rings are parallel displaced. The ring normal and the vector between the ring centroids form an angle of about 20° up to centroid–centroid distances of 3.8 A. Such a parallel-displaced structure also has a contribution from π–σ attraction, the more so with increasing offset. Only a limited number of structures with a near to perfect facial alignment exists. The term π–π stacking is occasionally used even when there is no substantial overlap of the π-ring planes. There is a number of metal–ligand complexes where only the edges of the rings interact in what would be better described a C–H⋯π attraction.

A critical account on π–π stacking in metal complexes with aromatic nitrogen-containing ligands

Three‐Dimensional Framework with Channeling Cavities for Small Molecules: {[M2(4, 4′‐bpy)3(NO3)4]·xH2O}n (M Co, Ni, Zn)

A combination of framework-builder (Cu(II) ion and 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bpy) ligand) and framework-regulator (AF(6) type anions; A = Si, Ge, and P) provides a series of novel porous coordination polymers. The highly porous coordination polymers ([Cu(AF(6))(4,4'-bpy)(2)].8H(2)O)(n)(A = Si (1a.8H(2)O), Ge (2a.8H(2)O)) afford robust 3-dimensional (3-D), microporous networks (3-D Regular Grid) by using AF(6)(2-) anions. The channel size of these complexes is ca. 8 x 8 A(2) along the c-axis and 6 x 2 A(2) along the a- or b-axes. When compounds 1a.8H(2)O or 2a.8H(2)O were immersed in water, a conversion of 3-D networks (1a.8H(2)O or 2a.8H(2)O) to interpenetrated networks ([Cu(4,4'-bpy)(2)(H(2)O)(2)].AF(6))(n)(A = Si (1b) and Ge (2b)) (2-D Interpenetration) took place. This 2-D interpenetrated network 1b shows unique dynamic anion-exchange properties, which accompany drastic structural conversions. When a PF(6)(-) monoanion instead of AF(6)(2)(-) dianions was used as the framework-regulator with another co-counteranion (coexistent anions), porous coordination polymers with various types of frameworks, ([Cu(2)(4,4'-bpy)(5)(H(2)O)(4)].anions.2H(2)O.4EtOH)(n)(anions = 4PF(6)(-) (3.2H(2)O.4EtOH), 2PF(6)(-) + 2ClO(4)(-) (4.2H(2)O.4EtOH)) (2-D Double-Layer), ([Cu(2)(PF(6))(NO(3))(4,4'-bpy)(4)].2PF(6).2H(2)O)(n)(5.2PF(6).2H(2)O) (3-D Undulated Grid), ([Cu(PF(6))(4,4'-bpy)(2)(MeCN)].PF(6).2MeCN)(n)(6.2MeCN) (2-D Grid), and ([Cu(4,4'-bpy)(2)(H(2)O)(2)].PF(6).BF(4))(n) (7) (2-D Grid), were obtained, where the three modes of PF(6)(-) anions are observed. 5.2PF(6).2H(2)O has rare PF(6)(-) bridges. The PF(6)(-) and NO(3)(-) monoanions alternately link to the Cu(II) centers in the undulated 2-D sheets of [Cu(4,4'-bpy)(2)](n)() to form a 3-D porous network. The free PF(6)(-) anions are included in the channels. 6.2MeCN affords both free and terminal-bridged PF(6)(-) anions. 3.2H(2)O.4EtOH, 4.2H(2)O.4EtOH, and 7 bear free PF(6)(-) anions. All of the anions in 3.2H(2)O.4EtOH and 4.2H(2)O.4EtOH are freely located in the channels constructed from a host network. Interestingly, these Cu(II) frameworks are rationally controlled by counteranions and selectively converted to other frameworks.

Framework Engineering by Anions and Porous Functionalities of Cu(II)/4,4‘-bpy Coordination Polymers

Stable tunable channels are formed by pillared-layer-type coordination networks [{Cu2(pzdc)2(L)}n] (pzdc = pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylate; L = pyrazine, 4,4′-bipyridine, N-(4-pyridyl)isonicotinamide). Not only their channel sizes, shapes, and chemical environments are systematically built up by tuning the pillar ligands, but also the porosity is maintained in the absence of the included guest molecules. These compounds can adsorb methane, and the amount of gas adsorption is controllable by the type of pillar ligands.

Rational Synthesis of Stable Channel‐Like Cavities with Methane Gas Adsorption Properties: [{Cu2(pzdc)2(L)}n] (pzdc=pyrazine‐2,3‐dicarboxylate; L=a Pillar Ligand)

Dreidimensionale Gerüststrukturen mit kanalförmigen Hohlräumen für kleine Moleküle: {[M2(4,4′‐bpy)3(NO3)4]·xH2O}n (M = Co, Ni, Zn)

Preparation and reactivity of dinuclear RuII complexes with bridging thiolate ligands [Cp★Ru(μ-SR)2RuCp★] (Cp★ η5-C5Me5; R iPr, tBu, 2,6-Me2C6H3).Oxidative addition of alkyl halides at the diruthenium center

Hiroyuki Matsuzaka

Papers

Three‐Dimensional Framework with Channeling Cavities for Small Molecules: {[M2(4, 4′‐bpy)3(NO3)4]·xH2O}n (M Co, Ni, Zn)

Framework Engineering by Anions and Porous Functionalities of Cu(II)/4,4‘-bpy Coordination Polymers

Rational Synthesis of Stable Channel‐Like Cavities with Methane Gas Adsorption Properties: [{Cu2(pzdc)2(L)}n] (pzdc=pyrazine‐2,3‐dicarboxylate; L=a Pillar Ligand)

Dreidimensionale Gerüststrukturen mit kanalförmigen Hohlräumen für kleine Moleküle: {[M2(4,4′‐bpy)3(NO3)4]·xH2O}n (M = Co, Ni, Zn)

Preparation and reactivity of dinuclear RuII complexes with bridging thiolate ligands [Cp★Ru(μ-SR)2RuCp★] (Cp★ η5-C5Me5; R iPr, tBu, 2,6-Me2C6H3).Oxidative addition of alkyl halides at the diruthenium center