Organic Linker Molecules [Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Precursors]

More than 20,000 examples of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and porous coordination polymers (PCPs) have been reported to date. The unique structures of MOFs and PCPs have allowed for extensive and varied chemical combinations between metal ions and organic ligands.^1,2) MOFs and PCPs feature porous coordination networks with extensive surface area, exceeding that of activated carbon and zeolite. The nanometer sized pores are capable of absorbing small molecules, and are expected to be used in applications for gas storage and separation, sensors, and for catalysis. Imidazole-based metal organic frameworks with a zeolitic function, the so-called ZIFs (Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks), have received great attention due to the thermodynamic stability, chemical stability, and particularly they are stable in water.^3,4) The ‘crystal sponge method’, wherein MOFs and PCPs uptake small molecules, enables us to solve the X-ray structure of small molecules by taking advantage of the crystalline nature of MOF’s and PCP’s. A task otherwise impossible for small molecules whom do not easily crystalize. X-ray structure analyses of amorphous and gas organic molecules are also possible by the method.^5,6)

We are able to design various MOFs and PCPs by taking into account the metal coordination number and organic ligand structure, as well as identify a unique function for the given MOF or PCP by introducing additional functional groups on the organic ligand. TCI offers rich variety of organic ligands (organic linker) for the design various MOFs/PCPs.

References

• 1) Functional Porous Coordination Polymers
  • S. Kitagawa, R. Kitaura, S. Noro, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004, 43, 2334.
• 2) Structuring of metal–organic frameworks at the mesoscopic/macroscopic scale
  • S. Furukawa, J. Reboul, S. Diring, K. Sumida, S. Kitagawa, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2014, 43, 5700.
• 3) High-Throughput Synthesis of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks and Application to CO₂ Capture
  • R. Banerjee, A. Phan, B. Wang, C. Knobler, H. Furukawa, M. O'Keeffe, O. M. Yaghi, Science 2008, 319, 939.
• 4) Synthesis, Structure, and Carbon Dioxide Capture Properties of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks
  • A. Phan, C. J. Doonan, F. J. Uribe-Romo, C. B. Knobler, M. O’Keeffe, O. M. Yaghi, Acc. Chem. Res. 2010, 43, 58.
• 5) X-ray analysis on the nanogram to microgram scale using porous complexes
  • Y. Inokuma, S. Yoshioka, J. Ariyoshi, T. Arai, Y. Hitora, K. Takada, S. Matsunaga, K. Rissanen, M. Fujita, Nature 2013, 495, 461.
• 6) Molecular containers
  • P. Ballester, M. Fujita, J. Rebek, Jr., Chem. Soc. Rev. 2015,44, 392.