SU-101 for the removal of pharmaceutical active compounds by the combination of adsorption/photocatalytic processes

Pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) are some of the most recalcitrant water pollutants causing undesired environmental and human effects. In absence of adapted decontamination technologies, there is an urgent need to develop efficient and sustainable alternatives for water remediation. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently emerged as promising candidates for adsorbing contaminants as well as providing photoactive sites, as they possess exceptional porosity and chemical versatility. To date, the reported studies using MOFs in water remediation have been mainly focused on the removal of a single type of PhACs and rarely on the combined elimination of PhACs mixtures. Herein, the eco-friendly bismuth-based MOF, SU-101, has been originally proposed as an efficient adsorbent-photocatalyst for the elimination of a mixture of three challenging persistent PhACs, frequently detected in wastewater and surface water in ng L-1 to mg·L-1 concentrations: the antibiotic sulfamethazine (SMT), the anti-inflammatory diclofenac (DCF), and the antihypertensive atenolol (At). Adsorption experiments of the mixture revealed that SU-101 exhibited a great adsorption capacity towards At, resulting in an almost complete removal (94.1 ± 0.8% for combined adsorption) in only 5 h. Also, SU-101 demonstrated a remarkable photocatalytic activity under visible light to simultaneously degrade DCF and SMT (99.6 ± 0.4% and 89.2 ± 1.4%, respectively). In addition, MOF-contaminant interactions, the photocatalytic mechanism and degradation pathways were investigated, also assessing the toxicity of the resulting degradation products. Even further, recycling and regeneration studies were performed, demonstrating its efficient reuse for 4 consecutive cycles without further treatment, and its subsequent successful regeneration by simply washing the material with a NaCl solution.

Structure-reactivity analysis of novel hypervalent iodine reagents in S-vinylation of thiols

The transition-metal free S-vinylation of thiophenols by vinylbenziodoxolones (VBX) constituted an important step forward in hypervalent iodine-mediated vinylations, highlighting the difference to vinyliodonium salts and that the reaction outcome was influenced by the substitution pattern of the benziodoxolone core. In this study, we report several new classes of hypervalent iodine vinylation reagents; vinylbenziodazolones, vinylbenziodoxolonimine and vinyliodoxathiole dioxides. Their synthesis, structural and electronic properties are described and correlated to the S-vinylation outcome, shedding light on some interesting facets of these reagents.

Discovery and In Situ Crystallization Studies of Cerium-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks with V-Shaped Linker Molecules

We report the discovery and characterization of two porous Ce(III)-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with the V-shaped linker molecules 4,4'-sulfonyldibenzoate (SDB2-) and 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)bis(benzoate) (hfipbb2-). The compounds of framework composition [Ce2(H2O)(SDB)3] (1) and [Ce2(hfipbb)3] (2) were obtained by using a synthetic approach in acetonitrile that we recently established. Structure determination of 1 was accomplished from 3D electron diffraction (3D ED) data, while 2 could be refined against powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) data using the crystal structure of an isostructural La-MOF as the starting model. Their framework structures consist of chain-like inorganic building units (IBUs) or hybrid-BUs that are interconnected by the V-shaped linker molecules to form framework structures with channel-type pores. The composition of both compounds was confirmed by PXRD, elemental analysis, as well as NMR and IR spectroscopy. Interestingly, despite the use of (NH4)2[CeIV(NO3)6] in the synthesis, cerium ions in both MOFs occur exclusively in the + III oxidation state as determined by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Thermal analyses reveal remarkably high thermal stabilities of ≥400 °C for the MOFs. Initial N2 sorption measurements revealed the peculiar sorption behavior of 2 which prompted a deeper investigation by Ar and CO2 sorption experiments. The combination with nonlocal density functional theory (NL-DFT) calculations adds to the understanding of the nature of the different pore diameters in 2. An extensive quasi-simultaneous in situ XANES/XRD investigation was carried out to unveil the formation of Ce-MOFs during the solvothermal syntheses in acetonitrile. The crystallization of the two Ce(III)-MOFs presented herein as well as two previously reported Ce(IV)-MOFs, all obtained by a similar synthetic approach, were studied. While the XRD patterns show time-dependent MOF crystallization, the XANES data reveal the presence of Ce(III) intermediates and their subsequent conversion to the MOFs. The addition of acetic acid in combination with the V-shaped linker molecule was identified as the crucial factor for the formation of the crystalline Ce(III/IV)-MOFs.

Electrochromism in Isoreticular Metal-Organic Framework Thin Films with Record High Coloration Efficiency

The power of isoreticular chemistry has been widely exploited to engineer metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with fascinating molecular sieving and storage properties but is underexplored for designing MOFs with tunable optoelectronic properties. Herein, three dipyrazole-terminated XDIs (X = PM (pyromellitic), N (naphthalene), or P (perylene); DI = diimide) with different lengths and electronic properties are prepared and employed as linkers for the construction of an isoreticular series of Zn-XDI MOFs with distinct electrochromism. The MOFs are grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) as high-quality crystalline thin films and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Due to the constituting electronically isolated XDI linkers, each member of the isoreticular thin film series exhibits two reversible one-electron redox events, each at a distinct electrochemical potential. The orientation of the MOFs as thin films as well as their isoreticular nature results in identical cation-coupled electron hopping transport rates in all three materials, as demonstrated by comparable apparent electron diffusion coefficients, Deapp. Upon electrochemical reduction to either the [XDI]•- or [XDI]2- state, each MOF undergoes characteristic changes in its optical properties as a function of linker length and redox state of the linker. Operando spectroelectrochemistry measurements reveal that Zn-PDI@FTO (PDI = perylene diimide) thin films exhibit a record high coloration efficiency of 941 cm2 C-1 at 746 nm, which is attributed to the maximized Faradaic transformations at each electronically isolated PDI unit. The electrochromic response of the thin film is retained to more than 99% over 100 reduction-oxidation cycles, demonstrating the applicability of the presented materials.

Sugar-Assisted Kinetic Resolutions in Metal/Chiral Amine Co-Catalyzed α-Allylations and [4+2] Cycloadditions: Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Sugar and Chromane Derivatives

Functionalized triose-, furanose and chromane-derivatives were synthesized by the titled reactions. The sugar-assisted kinetic resolution/C-C bond-forming cascade processes generate a functionalized sugar derivative with a quaternary stereocenter in a highly enantioselective fashion (up to >99 % ee) by using a simple combination of metal and chiral amine co-catalysts. Notably, the interplay between the chiral sugar substrate and the chiral amino acid derivative allowed for the construction of a functionalized sugar product with high enantioselectivity (up to 99 %) also when using a combination of racemic amine catalyst (0 % ee) and metal catalyst.

Encapsulation of dopamine within SU-101: insights by computational chemistry

Encapsulating and protecting dopamine from oxidation is a difficult challenge. We propose to use SU-101 BioMOF as a dopamine host, where we study different adsorption scenarios by a robust computational approach. Our results show that dopamine encapsulation is feasible with the formation of non-covalent interactions within the SU-101 pores. These computational results have been corroborated experimentally.

Porous Salts Containing Cationic Al24-Hydroxide-Acetate Clusters from Scalable, Green and Aqueous Synthesis Routes

The solution chemistry of aluminum is highly complex and various polyoxocations are known. Here we report on the facile synthesis of a cationic Al24 cluster that forms porous salts of composition [Al24(OH)56(CH3COO)12]X4, denoted CAU-55-X, with X = Cl-, Br-, I-, HSO4-. Three-dimensional electron diffraction was employed to determine the crystal structures. Various robust and mild synthesis routes for the chloride salt [Al24(OH)56(CH3COO)12]Cl4 in water were established resulting in high yields (> 95%, 215 g per batch) within minutes. Specific surface areas and H2O capacities with maximum values of up to 930 m2/g and 430 mg/g are observed. The particle size of CAU-55-X can be tuned between 140 nm and 1250 nm, permitting its synthesis as stable dispersions or as highly crystalline powders. The positive surface charge of the particles, allow fast and effective adsorption of anionic dye molecules and adsorption of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Photocatalytic Properties of Two Isoreticular Ce(IV)-MOFs with an Infinite Rod-Shaped Inorganic Building Unit

The use of the V-shaped linker molecules 4,4'-oxydibenzoic acid (H₂ODB) and 4,4'-carbonyldibenzoic acid (H₂CDB) led to the discovery of two isoreticular Ce(IV)-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) of composition [CeO(H₂O)(L)], L = ODB^2-, CDB^2-, denoted CAU-58 (CAU = Christian-Albrechts-University). The recently developed Ce-MOF synthesis approach in acetonitrile as the solvent proved effective in accessing Ce(IV)-MOF structures with infinite rod-shaped inorganic building units (IBUs) and circumventing the formation of the predominantly observed hexanuclear [Ce₆O₈] cluster. For the structure determination of the isoreticular MOFs, three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) data were used in combination with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. [CeO(H₂O)(CDB)] shows reversible H₂O adsorption by stirring in water and thermal treatment at 190 °C, which leads to a unit cell volume change of 11%. The MOFs feature high thermal stabilities (T > 290 °C), which exceed those of most Ce(IV)-MOFs and can be attributed to the infinite rod-shaped IBU. Surface and bulk oxidation states of the cerium ions were analyzed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES). While Ce(III) ions are observed by the highly surface-sensitive XPS method, the bulk material contains predominantly Ce(IV) ions according to XANES. Application of the MOFs as catalysts for the catalytic degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solutions was also studied. While degradation activity for both MOFs was observed, only CAU-58-ODB revealed enhanced photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet (UV) light. The photocatalytic mechanism likely involves a ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) from the linkers to the Ce(IV) centers. Analyses by XANES and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) demonstrate that leaching of Cerium ions as well as partial reduction of Ce(IV) to Ce(III) takes place during catalysis. At the same time, PXRD data confirm the structural stability of the remaining MOF catalysts.

Stereospecific Photoredox-Catalyzed Vinylations to Function-alized Alkenes and C-Glycosides

We report an efficient radical-mediated C-C coupling through photoredox-catalyzed reactions of 4-alkyl-dihydropyridines (DHPs) and vinylbenziodoxol(on)es (VBX, VBO). This transition-metal-free and mild photocatalytic method has excellent functional group tolerance and affords vinylated products in good yields, with complete retention of the alkene configuration. The utility of the methodology is demonstrated by the diastereoselective synthesis of C-vinyl glycosides. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that the C-C bond formation is stereospecific and proceeds through a concerted radical coupling transition state.

Synthesis of α,γ-Chiral Trifluoromethylated Amines through the Stereospecific Isomerization of α-Chiral Allylic Amines

Chiral γ-branched aliphatic amines are present in a large number of pharmaceuticals and natural products. However, enantioselective methods to access these compounds are scarce and mainly rely on the use of designed chiral transition-metal complexes. Herein, we combined an organocatalytic method for the stereospecific isomerization of chiral allylic amines with a diastereoselective reduction of the chiral imine/enamine intermediates, leading to γ-trifluoromethylated aliphatic amines with two noncontiguous stereogenic centers, in excellent yields and high diastereo- and enantioselectivities. This approach has been used with primary amine substrates. This approach also provides a new synthetic pathway to chiral trifluoromethylated scaffolds, of importance in medicinal chemistry. Additionally, a gram-scale reaction demonstrates the applicability of this synthetic procedure.

Chiral Lanthanum Metal-Organic Framework with Gated CO2 Sorption and Concerted Framework Flexibility

A metal–organic framework (MOF) CTH-17 based on lanthanum(III) and the conformationally chiral linker 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene, cpb^6–: [La₂(cpb)]·1.5dmf was prepared by the solvothermal method in dimethylformamide (dmf) and characterized by variable-temperature X-ray powder diffraction (VTPXRD), variable-temperature X-ray single-crystal diffraction (SCXRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). CTH-17 is a rod-MOF with new topology och. It has high-temperature stability with Sohncke space groups P6₁22/P6₅22 at 90 K and P622 at 300 and 500 K, all phases characterized with SCXRD and at 293 K also with three-dimensional (3D) electron diffraction. VTPXRD indicates a third phase appearing after 620 K and stable up to 770 K. Gas sorption isotherms with N₂ indicate a modest surface area of 231 m² g^–1 for CTH-17, roughly in agreement with the crystal structure. Carbon dioxide sorption reveals a gate-opening effect of CTH-17 where the structure opens up when the loading of CO₂ reaches approximately ∼0.45 mmol g^–1 or 1 molecule per unit cell. Based on the SCXRD data, this is interpreted as flexibility based on the concerted movements of the propeller-like hexatopic cpb linkers, the movement intramolecularly transmitted by the π–π stacking of the cpb linkers and helped by the fluidity of the LaO₆ coordination sphere. This was corroborated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations yielding the chiral phase (P622) as the energy minimum and a completely racemic phase (P6/mmm), with symmetric cpb linkers representing a saddle point in a racemization process.

Structure of the active pharmaceutical ingredient bismuth subsalicylate

Structure determination of pharmaceutical compounds is invaluable for drug development but remains challenging for those that form as small crystals with defects. Bismuth subsalicylate, among the most commercially significant bismuth compounds, is an active ingredient in over-the-counter medications such as Pepto-Bismol, used to treat dyspepsia and H. pylori infections. Despite its century-long history, the structure of bismuth subsalicylate is still under debate. Here we show that advanced electron microscopy techniques, namely three-dimensional electron diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy, can give insight into the structure of active pharmaceutical ingredients that are difficult to characterize using conventional methods due to their small size or intricate structural features. Hierarchical clustering analysis of three-dimensional electron diffraction data from ordered crystals of bismuth subsalicylate revealed a layered structure. A detailed investigation using high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy showed variations in the stacking of layers, the presence of which has likely hindered structure solution by other means. Together, these modern electron crystallography techniques provide a toolbox for structure determination of active pharmaceutical ingredients and drug discovery, demonstrated by this study of bismuth subsalicylate.

Sacrificial W Facilitates Self-Reconstruction with Abundant Active Sites for Water Oxidation

Water oxidation is an important reaction for multiple renewable energy conversion and storage-related devices and technologies. High-performance and stable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are urgently required. Bimetallic (oxy)hydroxides have been widely used in alkaline OER as electrocatalysts, but their activity is still not satisfactory due to insufficient active sites. In this research, A unique and efficient approach of sacrificial W to prepare CoFe (oxy)hydroxides with abundant active species for OER is presented. Multiple ex situ and operando/in situ characterizations have validated the self-reconstruction of the as-prepared CoFeW sulfides to CoFe (oxy)hydroxides in alkaline OER with synchronous W etching. Experiments and theoretical calculations show that the sacrificial W in this process induces metal cation vacancies, which facilitates the in situ transformation of the intermediate metal hydroxide to CoFe-OOH with more high-valence Co(III), thus creating abundant active species for OER. The Co(III)-rich environment endows the in situ formed CoFe oxyhydroxide with high catalytic activity for OER on a simple flat glassy carbon electrode, outperforming those not treated by the sacrificial W procedure. This research demonstrates the influence of etching W on the electrocatalytic performance, and provides a low-cost means to improve the active sites of the in situ self-reconstructed bimetallic oxyhydroxides for OER.

Microscopic Insights into Cation-Coupled Electron Hopping Transport in a Metal-Organic Framework

Electron transport through metal-organic frameworks by a hopping mechanism between discrete redox active sites is coupled to diffusion-migration of charge-balancing counter cations. Experimentally determined apparent diffusion coefficients, D_e^app, that characterize this form of charge transport thus contain contributions from both processes. While this is well established for MOFs, microscopic descriptions of this process are largely lacking. Herein, we systematically lay out different scenarios for cation-coupled electron transfer processes that are at the heart of charge diffusion through MOFs. Through systematic variations of solvents and electrolyte cations, it is shown that the D_e^app for charge migration through a PIZOF-type MOF, Zr(dcphOH-NDI) that is composed of redox-active naphthalenediimide (NDI) linkers, spans over 2 orders of magnitude. More importantly, however, the microscopic mechanisms for cation-coupled electron propagation are contingent on differing factors depending on the size of the cation and its propensity to engage in ion pairs with reduced linkers, either non-specifically or in defined structural arrangements. Based on computations and in agreement with experimental results, we show that ion pairing generally has an adverse effect on cation transport, thereby slowing down charge transport. In Zr(dcphOH-NDI), however, specific cation-linker interactions can open pathways for concerted cation-coupled electron transfer processes that can outcompete limitations from reduced cation flux.

Synthesis, crystal structure, and topology of a polycatenated bismuth coordination polymer

Solvothermal reaction of Bi(NO3)3·5H2O with the flexible ligand 1,3,5-tris[4-(carboxyphenyl)oxamethyl]-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (H3TBTC) in methanol at 120 °C for 1 h led to the formation of a novel coordination polymer (CP) with the composition of Bi(TBTC). The structure of the microcrystalline material was determined through three-dimensional electron diffraction (3DED) measurements and phase purity was confirmed by a Pawley refinement, elemental analysis, and thermal analysis. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1 ‾ $P\overline{1}$ with one Bi3+ cation and one TBTC3− trianion in the asymmetric unit. Edge-sharing of BiO7 polyhedra leads to the formation of dinuclear Bi2O12 units, which through coordination to six TBTC3− ions form a layered two-periodic structure. Upon heating the material in air, the unit cell volume contracts by 9%, which is attributed to a shift in the inter-layer arrangement and to the flexibility of the building units of the structure. The compound starts to decompose at ∼300 °C. Topological analysis revealed layers consisting of 3-c and 6-c nodes, consistent with the two-periodic kgd net – the dual of the Kagome net (kgm). However, due to the non-planar nature of the Bi(TBTC) layers, adjacent layers are interlaced by polycatenation.

Isoreticular Chemistry of Group 13 Metal-Organic Framework Compounds Based on V-Shaped Linker Molecules: Exceptions to the Rule?

Following the concept of isoreticular chemistry, we carried out a systematic study on Ga-containing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) using six V-shaped linker molecules of differing sizes, geometries, and additional functional groups. The linkers included three isophthalic acid derivatives (m-H₂BDC-R, R = CH₃, OCH₃, NHCOCH₃), thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (H₂TDC), and two 4,4'-sulfonyldibenzoic acid derivatives (H₂SDBA, DPSTA). The crystal structures of seven compounds were elucidated by a combination of model building, single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED), and Rietveld refinements against powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) data. Four new Ga-MOFs that are isoreticular with their aluminum counterparts, i.e. Ga-CAU-10-R (Ga(OH)(m-BDC-R); R = OCH₃, NHCOCH₃), Ga-CAU-11 (Ga(OH)(SDBA)), and Ga-CAU-11-COOH (Ga(OH)(H₂DPSTC)), were obtained. For the first time large single crystals of a MOF crystallizing in the CAU-10 structure type could be isolated, i.e. Ga-CAU-10-OCH₃, which permitted a detailed structural characterization. In addition, the use of 5-methylisophthalic acid and thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid resulted in two new Ga-MOFs denoted Ga-CAU-49 and Ga-CAU-51, respectively, which are not isostructural with any known Al-MOF. The crystal structure of Ga-CAU-49 ([Ga₄(m-HBDC-CH₃)₂(m-BDC-CH₃)₃(OH)₄(H₂O)]) contains an unprecedented rod-shaped inorganic building unit (IBU) of the formula _∞¹{Ga₁₆(OH)₁₈O₆₀}, composed of corner-sharing GaO₅ and GaO₆ polyhedra. In Ga-CAU-51 ([Ga(OH)(C₅H₂O₂S)]) chains of alternating cis and trans corner-sharing GaO₆ polyhedra form the IBU. A detailed characterization of the title compounds was carried out, including nitrogen gas and water vapor sorption measurements. Ga-CAU-11 was the only compound exhibiting porosity toward nitrogen with a type I isotherm, a specific surface area of a_S,BET = 210 m²/g, and a micropore volume of V_mic = 0.09 cm³/g. The new MOF Ga-CAU-51 exhibits exceptional water sorption properties with a reversible S-shaped isotherm and a high uptake around p/p₀ = 0.38 of m_ads = 370 mg/g.

Metal-Dependent and Selective Crystallization of CAU-10 and MIL-53 Frameworks through Linker Nitration

The reaction of the V-shaped linker molecule 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid (H2 L0 ), with Al or Ga nitrate under almost identical reaction conditions leads to the nitration of the linker and subsequent formation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with CAU-10 or MIL-53 type structure of composition [Al(OH)(L)], denoted as Al-CAU-10-L0, 2, 4, 6 or [Ga(OH)(L)], denoted as Ga-MIL-53-L2 . The Al-MOF contains the original linker L0 as well as three different nitration products (L2 , L4 and L4/6 ), whereas the Ga-MOF mainly incorporates the linker L2 . The compositions were deduced by 1 H NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by Rietveld refinement. In situ and ex situ studies were carried out to follow the nitration and crystallization, as well as the composition of the MOFs. The crystal structures were refined against powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) data. As anticipated, the use of the V-shaped linker results in the formation of the CAU-10 type structure in the Al-MOF. Unexpectedly, the Ga-MOF crystallizes in a MIL-53 type structure, which is usually observed with linear or slightly bent linker molecules. To study the structure directing effect of the in situ nitrated linker, pure 2-nitrobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (m-H2 BDC-NO2 ) was employed which exclusively led to the formation of [Ga(OH)(C8 H3 NO6 )] (Ga-MIL-53-m-BDC-NO2 ), which is isoreticular to Ga-MIL-53-L2 . Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations confirmed the higher stability of Ga-MIL-53-L2 compared to Ga-CAU-10-L2 and grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations (GCMC) are in agreement with the observed water adsorption isotherms of Ga-MIL-53-L2 .

A Tunable Multivariate Metal-Organic Framework as a Platform for Designing Photocatalysts

Catalysts for photochemical reactions underlie many foundations in our lives, from natural light harvesting to modern energy storage and conversion, including processes such as water photolysis by TiO2. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted large interest within the chemical research community, as their structural variety and tunability yield advantages in designing photocatalysts to address energy and environmental challenges. Here, we report a series of novel multivariate metal-organic frameworks (MTV-MOFs), denoted as MTV-MIL-100. They are constructed by linking aromatic carboxylates and AB2OX3 bimetallic clusters, which have ordered atomic arrangements. Synthesized through a solvent-assisted approach, these ordered and multivariate metal clusters offer an opportunity to enhance and fine-tune the electronic structures of the crystalline materials. Moreover, mass transport is improved by taking advantage of the high porosity of the MOF structure. Combining these key advantages, MTV-MIL-100(Ti,Co) exhibits a high photoactivity with a turnover frequency of 113.7 molH2 gcat.-1 min-1, a quantum efficiency of 4.25%, and a space time yield of 4.96 × 10-5 in the photocatalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane. Bridging the fields of perovskites and MOFs, this work provides a novel platform for the design of highly active photocatalysts.

Molecular Functionalization of NiO Nanocatalyst for Enhanced Water Oxidation by Electronic Structure Engineering

Tuning the local environment of nanomaterial-based catalysts has emerged as an effective approach to optimize their oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance, yet the controlled electronic modulation around surface active sites remains a great challenge. Herein, directed electronic modulation of NiO nanoparticles was achieved by simple surface molecular modification with small organic molecules. By adjusting the electronic properties of modifying molecules, the local electronic structure was rationally tailored and a close electronic structure-activity relationship was discovered: the increasing electron-withdrawing modification readily decreased the electron density around surface Ni sites, accelerating the reaction kinetics and improving OER activity, and vice versa. Detailed investigation by operando Raman spectroelectrochemistry revealed that the electron-withdrawing modification facilitates the charge-transfer kinetics, stimulates the catalyst reconstruction, and promotes abundant high-valent γ-NiOOH reactive species generation. The NiO-C6 F5 catalyst, with the optimized electronic environment, exhibited superior performance towards water oxidation. This work provides a well-designed and effective approach for heterogeneous catalyst fabrication under the molecular level.

A Robust and Biocompatible Bismuth Ellagate MOF Synthesized Under Green Ambient Conditions

The first bioinspired microporous metal-organic framework (MOF) synthesized using ellagic acid, a common natural antioxidant and polyphenol building unit, is presented. Bi2O(H2O)2(C14H2O8)·nH2O (SU-101) was inspired by bismuth phenolate metallodrugs, and could be synthesized entirely from nonhazardous or edible reagents under ambient aqueous conditions, enabling simple scale-up. Reagent-grade and affordable dietary supplement-grade ellagic acid was sourced from tree bark and pomegranate hulls, respectively. Biocompatibility and colloidal stability were confirmed by in vitro assays. The material exhibits remarkable chemical stability for a bioinspired MOF (pH = 2-14, hydrothermal conditions, heated organic solvents, biological media, SO2 and H2S), attributed to the strongly chelating phenolates. A total H2S uptake of 15.95 mmol g-1 was recorded, representing one of the highest H2S capacities for a MOF, where polysulfides are formed inside the pores of the material. Phenolic phytochemicals remain largely unexplored as linkers for MOF synthesis, opening new avenues to design stable, eco-friendly, scalable, and low-cost MOFs for diverse applications, including drug delivery.

A Tetratopic Phosphonic Acid for the Synthesis of Permanently Porous MOFs: Reactor Size-Dependent Product Formation and Crystal Structure Elucidation via Three-Dimensional Electron Diffraction

Following the strategy of installing porosity in coordination polymers predefined by linker geometry, we employed the new tetratopic linker molecule 1,1,2,2-tetrakis[4-phosphonophenyl]ethylene (H₈TPPE) for the synthesis of new porous metal phosphonates. A high-throughput study was carried out using Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ as metal ions, and a very strong influence of the reactor size on the product formation is observed while maintaining the same reaction parameters. Using small autoclaves (V = 250 μL), single crystals of isostructural mononuclear complexes of the composition [Ni(H₃DPBP)₂(H₂O)₄] (1) and [Co(H₃DPBP)₂(H₂O)₄] (2) are formed. They contain the linker molecule H₄DPBP (4,4'-diphosphonobenzophenone), which is formed in situ by oxidation of H₈TPPE. Using autoclaves with a volume of V = 2 mL, two new 3D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) of composition [Ni₂(H₄TPPE)(H₂O)₆]·4H₂O (CAU-46) and [Co₂(H₄TPPE)(H₂O)₄]·3H₂O (CAU-47) were isolated in bulk quantities, and their crystal structures were determined from three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED) and powder X-ray diffraction data. Using even larger autoclaves (V = 30 mL), another 3D MOF of the composition [Co₂(H₄TPPE)]·6H₂O (Co-CAU-48) was obtained, and a structure model was established via 3D ED measurements. Remarkably, the isostructural compound [Ni₂(H₄TPPE)]·9H₂O (Ni-CAU-48) is only obtained indirectly, i.e., via thermal activation of CAU-46. As the chosen linker geometry leads to the formation of MOFs, topological analyses were carried out, highlighting the different connectivities observed in the three frameworks. Porosity of the compounds was proven via water sorption experiments, resulting in uptakes of 126 mg/g (CAU-46), 105 mg/g (CAU-47), 210 mg/g (Ni-CAU-48), and 109 mg/g (Co-CAU-48).

An Expandable Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework Characterized by Three-Dimensional Electron Diffraction

A molecular crystal of a 2-D hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) undergoes an unusual structural transformation after solvent removal from the crystal pores during activation. The conformationally flexible host molecule, ABTPA, adapts its molecular conformation during activation to initiate a framework expansion. The microcrystalline activated phase was characterized by three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED), which revealed that ABTPA uses out-of-plane anthracene units as adaptive structural anchors. These units change orientation to generate an expanded, lower density framework material in the activated structure. The porous HOF, ABTPA-2, has robust dynamic porosity (SA_BET = 1183 m² g^-1) and exhibits negative area thermal expansion. We use crystal structure prediction (CSP) to understand the underlying energetics behind the structural transformation and discuss the challenges facing CSP for such flexible molecules.

A Scandium MOF with an Unprecedented Inorganic Building Unit, Delimiting the Micropore Windows

A new scandium metal-organic framework (Sc-MOF) with the composition of [Sc(OH)(OBA)], denoted as Sc-CAU-21, was prepared under solvothermal reaction conditions using 4,4'-oxidibenzoic acid (H₂OBA) as the ligand. Single-crystal structure determination revealed the presence of the new inorganic building unit (IBU) {Sc₈(μ-OH)₈(O₂C)₁₆}. It is composed of cis-connected ScO₆ polyhedra forming an eight-membered ring through bridging μ-OH groups. The connection of the IBUs leads to a 3D framework, containing 1D pores with a diameter between 4.2 and 5.6 Å. Pore access is limited by the size of the IBU, and in contrast to the isoreticular aluminum compound Al-CAU-21 [Al(OH)(OBA)], which is nonporous toward nitrogen at 77 K, Sc-CAU-21 exhibits a specific surface area of 610 m² g^-1. The title compound is thermally stable in air up to 350 °C and can be employed as a host for photoluminescent ions. Sc-CAU-21 exhibits a ligand-based blue emission, and (co)substituting Sc³⁺ ions with Ln³⁺ ions (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, and Dy³⁺) allows the tuning of the emitting color of the phosphor from red to green. Single-phase white-light emission with CIE color coordinates close to the ideal for white-light emission was also achieved. The luminescence property was utilized in combination with powder X-ray diffraction to study in situ the crystallization process of Sc-CAU-21:Tb and Sc-CAU-21:Eu. Both studies indicate a two-step crystallization process, with a crystalline intermediate, prior to the formation of Sc-CAU-21:Ln.

Polymorphous Indium Metal-Organic Frameworks Based on a Ferrocene Linker: Redox Activity, Porosity, and Structural Diversity

The metallocene-based linker molecule 1,1'-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid (H₂FcDC) was used to synthesize four different polymorphs of composition [In(OH)(FeC₁₂H₈O₄)]. Using conventional solvent-based synthesis methods and varying the synthetic parameters such as metal source, reaction temperature, and solvent, two different MOFs and one 1D-coordination polymer denoted as CAU-43 (1), In-MIL-53-FcDC_a (2), and In-FcDC (3) were obtained. Furthermore, thermal treatment of CAU-43 (1) at 190 °C under vacuum yielded a new polymorph of 2, In-MIL-53-FcDC_b (4). Both MOFs 2 and 4 crystallize in a MIL-53 type structure, but in different space groups C2/m for 2 and P1̅ for 4. The structures of the four title compounds were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), or a combination of three-dimensional electron diffraction measurements (3D ED) and PXRD. N₂ sorption experiments of 1, 2, and 4 showed specific surface areas of 355 m² g^-1, 110 m² g^-1, and 140 m² g^-1, respectively. Furthermore, the electronic properties of the title compounds were characterized via Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopy. All Mössbauer spectra showed the characteristic doublet, proving the persistence of the ferrocene moiety. In the cases of 1, 3, and 4, appreciable impurities of ferrocenium ions could be detected by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Cyclovoltammetric experiments were performed to demonstrate the accessible redox activity of the linker molecule of the title compounds. A redox process of FcDC^2- with oxidation (between 0.86 and 0.97 V) and reduction wave (between 0.69 and 0.80 V) was observed.

Silver-Triggered Activity of a Heterogeneous Palladium Catalyst in Oxidative Carbonylation Reactions

A silver-triggered heterogeneous Pd-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation has been developed. This heterogeneous process exhibits high efficiency and good recyclability, and was utilized for the one-pot construction of polycyclic compounds with multiple chiral centers. AgOTf was used to remove chloride ions in the heterogeneous catalyst Pd-AmP-CNC, thereby generating highly active PdII , which results in high efficiency of the heterogeneous catalytic system.

Metal-Organic Frameworks with Hexakis(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene: Extensions to Reticular Chemistry and Introducing Foldable Nets

Nine metal-organic frameworks have been prepared with the hexagon-shaped linker 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (H6cpb) by solvothermal reactions in dimethylformamide (dmf) or dimethylacetamide (dmac) with acetic acid or formic acid as modulators: [Bi2(cpb)(acetato)2(dmf)2]·2dmf CTH-6 forms a rtl-net; 2(H2NMe2)[Cu2(cpb)] CTH-7 forms a kgd-net; [Fe4(cpb)(acetato)2(dmf)4] CTH-8 and [Co4(cpb)(acetato)2(dmf)4] CTH-9 are isostructural and form yav-nets; 2(HNEt3)[Fe2(cpb)] CTH-10 and the two polymorphs of 2(H2NMe2)[Zn2(cpb)]·1.5dmac, Zn-MOF-888 and CTH-11, show kgd-nets; [Cu2(cpb)(acetato)2(dmf)2]·2dmf, CTH-12, forms a mixed coordination and hydrogen-bonded sql-net; and 2(H2NMe2)[Zn2(cpb)] CTH-13, a similarly mixed yav-net. Surface area values (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, BET) range from 34 m2 g-1 for CTH-12 to 303 m2 g-1 for CTH-9 for samples activated at 120 °C in dynamic vacuum. All compounds show normal (10-fold higher) molar CO2 versus N2 uptake at 298 K, except the 19-fold CO2 uptake for CTH-12 containing Cu(II) dinuclear paddle-wheels. We also show how perfect hexagons and triangles can combine to a new 3D topology laf, a model of which gave us the idea of foldable network topologies, as the laf-net can fold into a 2D form while retaining the local geometry around each vertex. Other foldable nets identified are cds, cds-a, ths, sqc163, clh, jem, and tfc covering the basic polygons and their combinations. The impact of this concept on "breathing" MOFs is discussed. I2 sorption, both from gas phase and from MeOH solution, into CTH-7 were studied by time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) on dried crystals. I2 was shown to have penetrated the crystals, as layers were consecutively peeled off by the ion beam. We suggest ToF-SIMS to be a method for studying sorption depth profiles of MOFs.

Hexahydroxytriphenylene for the synthesis of group 13 MOFs - a new inorganic building unit in a β-cristobalite type structure

Two new, microporous MOFs of framework composition ((CH3)2NH2)2[M3O(HHTP)(HHTP˙)], M = Al3+, Ga3+, H6HHTP = 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene, are described. Electron diffraction combined with molecular simulations show that these compounds crystallize in the β-cristobalite structure, containing a new type of trinuclear inorganic building unit for MOFs and radical anions.

Permanent porosity and role of sulfonate groups in coordination networks constructed from a new polyfunctional phosphonato-sulfonate linker molecule

The new linker molecule (H2O3PCH2)2N-CH2C6H4SO3H, (4-{[bis(phosphonomethyl)amino]methyl}benzene-sulfonic acid, H5L), bearing both phosphonic and sulfonic acid groups, was employed for the synthesis of new coordination polymers (CPs). Four new CPs of composition [Mg(H3L)(H2O)2]·H2O (1), [Mg2(HL)(H2O)6]·2H2O (2), [Ba(H3L)(H2O)]·H2O (3) and [Pb2(HL)]·H2O (4), were discovered using high-throughput methods and all structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). With increasing ionic radius of the metal ion, an increase in coordination number from CN = 6 (Mg2+) to CN = 9 (Ba2+) and an increase in the dimensionality of the network from 1D to 3D is observed. This is reflected in the composition of the IBU and the number of metal ions that are connected by each linker molecule, i.e. from three in 1 to ten in 4. The connection of the IBUs leads to 1D and 2D structures in 1 and 2 with non-coordinating sulfonate groups, while 3 and 4 crystallise in MOF-type structures and coordination of the sulfonate groups is observed. The compounds exhibit thermal stabilities between 200 (2) and 345 °C (4) as proven by variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction (VT-PXRD) measurements. Title compound 4 contains micropores of 4 × 2 Å and reversible H2O uptake of 50 mg g-1 was demonstrated by vapour sorption measurements, making it the first porous metal phosphonatosulfonate. Detailed characterisation, i.e. CHNS and TG analysis as well as NMR and IR spectroscopy measurements confirm the phase purity of the title compounds.

Highly Diastereoselective Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Cascade Carbonylative Carbocyclization of Enallenols

A palladium-catalyzed oxidative cascade carbonylative carbocyclization of enallenols was developed. Under mild reaction conditions, a range of cis-fused [5,5] bicyclic γ-lactones and γ-lactams with a 1,3-diene motif were obtained in good yields with high diastereoselectivity. The obtained lactone/lactam products are viable substrates for a stereoselective Diels-Alder reaction with N-phenylmaleimide, providing polycyclic compounds with increased molecular complexity.

Observation of three different linker conformers in a scandium ferrocenedicarboxylate coordination polymer

In the coordination polymer CAU-50 based on 1,1′-ferrocenedicarboxylate and scandium, three different conformers of the same linker molecule are observed.

A metal-organic framework for efficient water-based ultra-low-temperature-driven cooling

Efficient use of energy for cooling applications is a very important and challenging field in science. Ultra-low temperature actuated (T_driving < 80 °C) adsorption-driven chillers (ADCs) with water as the cooling agent are one environmentally benign option. The nanoscale metal-organic framework [Al(OH)(C₆H₂O₄S)] denoted CAU-23 was discovered that possess favorable properties, including water adsorption capacity of 0.37 g_H2O/g_sorbent around p/p₀ = 0.3 and cycling stability of at least 5000 cycles. Most importantly the material has a driving temperature down to 60 °C, which allows for the exploitation of yet mostly unused temperature sources and a more efficient use of energy. These exceptional properties are due to its unique crystal structure, which was unequivocally elucidated by single crystal electron diffraction. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to reveal the water adsorption mechanism at the atomic level. With its green synthesis, CAU-23 is an ideal material to realize ultra-low temperature driven ADC devices.

In situ XAS study of the local structure and oxidation state evolution of palladium in a reduced graphene oxide supported Pd(ii) carbene complex during an undirected C–H acetoxylation reaction

In situ XAS is used to reveal the evolution of palladium species during an undirected C–H acetoxylation reaction.

Multistimuli-Responsive Enaminitrile Molecular Switches Displaying H+-Induced Aggregate Emission, Metal Ion-Induced Turn-On Fluorescence, and Organogelation Properties

Multistimuli-responsive enaminitrile-based configurational switches displaying aggregation-induced emission (AIE), fluorescence turn-on effects, and supergelation properties are presented. The E-isomers dominated (>97%) in neutral/basic solution, and the structures underwent precisely controlled switching around the enamine C═C bond upon addition of acid/base. Specific fluorescence output was observed in response to different external input in the solution and solid states. In response to H⁺, configurational switching resulted in complete formation of the nonemissive Z-H⁺-isomers in solution, however displaying deep-blue to blue fluorescence (Φ_F up to 0.41) in the solid state. In response to Cu^II in the solution state, the E-isomers exhibited intense, turn-on, blue-green fluorescence, which could be turned off by addition of competitive coordination. The acid/base-activated switching, together with the induced AIE-effects, further enabled the accomplishment of a responsive superorganogelator. In nonpolar solvents, a blue-fluorescent supramolecular gel was formed upon addition of acid to the E-isomer suspension. The gelation could be reversed by addition of base, and the overall, reversible process could be repeated at least five cycles.