A Porphyrin-Based 3D Metal-Organic Framework Featuring [Cu8Cl6]10+ Cluster Secondary Building Units: Synthesis, Structure Elucidation, Anion Exchange, and Peroxidase-Like Activity

Herein, we report a rare example of cationic three-dimensional (3D) metal-organic framework (MOF) of [Cu5Cl3(TMPP)]Cl5 ⋅ xSol (denoted as Cu-TMPP; H2TMPP=meso-tetrakis (6-methylpyridin-3-yl) porphyrin; xSol=encapsulated solvates) supported by [Cu8Cl6]10+ cluster secondary building units (SBUs) wherein the eight faces of the Cl--based octahedron are capped by eight Cu2+. Surface-area analysis indicated that Cu-TMPP features a mesoporous structure and its solvate-like Cl- counterions can be exchanged by BF4 -, PF6 -, and NO3 -. The polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated Cu-TMPP (denoted as Cu-TMPP-PVP) demonstrated good ROS generating ability, producing ⋅OH in the absence of light (peroxidase-like activity) and 1O2 on light irradiation (650 nm; 25 mW cm-2). This work highlights the potential of Cu-TMPP as a functional carrier of anionic guests such as drugs, for the combination therapy of cancer and other diseases.

Cluster-Based Crystalline Materials for Iodine Capture

The treatment of radioactive iodine in nuclear waste has always been a critical issue of social concern. The rational design of targeted and efficient capture materials is of great significance to the sustainable development of the ecological environment. In recent decades, crystalline materials have served as a molecular platform to study the binding process and capture mechanism of iodine molecules, enabling people to understand the interaction between radioactive iodine guests and pores intuitively. Cluster-based crystalline materials, including molecular clusters and cluster-based metal-organic frameworks, are emerging candidates for iodine capture due to their aggregative binding sites, precise structural information, tunable pores/packing patterns, and abundant modifications. Herein, recent progress of different types of cluster materials and cluster-dominated metal-organic porous materials for iodine capture is reviewed. Research prospects, design strategies to improve the affinity for iodine and possible capture mechanisms are discussed.

Highly Efficient I2 Sorption, CO2 Capture, and Catalytic Conversion by Introducing Nitrogen Donor Sites in a Microporous Co(II)-Based Metal-Organic Framework

Recently, the development of porous absorbents for efficient CO₂ and I₂ capture has attracted considerable attention because of severe global climate change and environmental issues with the nuclear energy. Hence, a unique porous metal-organic framework (MOF), {[Co(L)]·DMF·2H₂O}_n (1, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) with uncoordinated N atoms was rationally constructed via using a heterofunctional 4,6-bis(4'-carboxyphenyl)pyrimidine (H₂L) linker. Interestingly, 1 exhibits exceptional properties for I₂ sorption, CO₂ capture, and catalytic conversion. Particularly, I₂ can be efficiently removed in both vapor and solution forms, and the adsorption amount can reach 676.25 and 345.28 mg g^-1, respectively. Furthermore, complex 1 displays high adsorption capacity for CO₂ (53.78 cm³ g^-1, 273 K). Consequently, 1 is expected to be a promising and practical material for environmental purification due to its excellent adsorption properties.

Improving the Stability and Visualizing the Structural Transformation of the Stimuli-Responsive Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

New metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on flexible tetra-carboxylate ligands and Cu(II) are designed to gain stimuli-responsive materials. Unstable MOFs can be more stable with unabated flexibility by replacing coordinated solvent molecules with auxiliary N-based ligands. Two of them are intensively studied by in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) analysis and the unit cell parameters during transformations have been observed in detail. They undergo exceptional structural transformations which can be divided into two processes: the thermal-responsive phase transition and the solvent-responsive phase transition. The thermal-responsive phase transition takes place in a narrow temperature interval reversibly. However, the solvent-responsive phase transition is a gradual and irreversible process. The stimuli-responsive mechanism has also been explored by comparing the parameters of the crystal structures under different temperatures. Fascinatingly, their exceptional structural transformations correlate with the flexibility of the ligand fragments and the [Cu₂(RCOO)₄] clusters.

The incorporation of heterovalent copper-oxo and copper-halide clusters for the fabrication of three porous cluster organic frameworks: syntheses, structures and iodine adsorption/release study

Three porous cluster organic frameworks constructed from the paddle-wheel Cu₂(CO₂)₄ and cubane-like Cu₄I₄ clusters have been synthesized and characterized. Interestingly, compound 2 shows moderate gas uptake ability and I₂ adsorption/release feature.

Crystal engineering of coordination-polymer-based iodine adsorbents using a π-electron-rich polycarboxylate aryl ether ligand

This work revealed that the synergy of microporous channels and convergent arrangements of halogen bonding and charge-transfer interaction sites within coordination polymers facilitated the iodine adsorption process.