Large-pore apertures in a series of metal-organic frameworks

Science. 2012 May 25;336(6084):1018-23. doi: 10.1126/science.1220131.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Magnesium* / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxides / chemical synthesis
  • Oxides / chemistry
  • Phthalic Acids / chemical synthesis
  • Phthalic Acids / chemistry
  • Porosity
  • Zinc* / chemistry

Substances

  • Oxides
  • Phthalic Acids
  • Magnesium
  • Zinc