From MOF-74-Zn to Triazolate-Directed Nonsymmetric Assembly of Chiral Zn6@Zn6 Clusters

The creation of new cluster building blocks, as well as new ligand coordination modes, are among the most effective ways to develop new framework materials. Yet, large and chiral clusters are both difficult to create and relatively few. Here, by studying the competing coordination of different azolates against carboxylate and combined carboxylate/phenolate, it is shown that the impact of azolates in the MOF-74 synthesis system differs dramatically, leading to the synthesis of MOF-74, UTSA-74, and CPM-72 for 2-methylimidazole, 1,2,4-triazole, and 1,2,3-triazole, respectively. The new CPM-72 contains a novel chiral Zn₁₂ triazolate cluster, which features a trigonal-prismatic Zn₆ core inside an octahedral Zn₆ shell. In contrast with MOF-74 with fully deprotonated and symmetrically bonded 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (H₄DOBDC), H₄DOBDC adopts an unusual nonsymmetric bonding mode in CPM-72 (carboxylate only at one end and carboxylate/phenolate at the other), resulting in a highly porous and intrinsically chiral 3D framework. The nonsymmetric bonding mode by H₄DOBDC, apparently dictated by the chiral Zn₁₂ cluster, can be replicated with 2-hydroxyterephthalic acid (H₃OBDC), leading to the synthesis of porous isoreticular CPM-73.     

Chiral Recognition and Separation by Chirality‐Enriched Metal–Organic Frameworks

Endowed with chiral channels and pores, chiral metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly useful; however, their synthesis remains a challenge given that most chiral building blocks are expensive. Although MOFs with induced chirality have been reported to avoid this shortcoming, no study providing evidence for the ee value of such MOFs has yet been reported. We herein describe the first study on the efficiency of chiral induction in MOFs using inexpensive achiral building blocks and fully recoverable chiral dopants to control the handedness of racemic MOFs. This method yielded chirality‐enriched MOFs with accessible pores. The ability of the materials to form host–guest complexes was probed with enantiomers of varying size and coordination and in solvents with varying polarity. Furthermore, mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs) composed of chirality‐enriched MOF particles dispersed in a polymer matrix demonstrated a new route for chiral separation.     

Chiral Induction and Remote Chiral Communication in Quinoline Oligoamide Foldamers for Determination of Enantiomeric Excess and Absolute Configuration of Chiral Amines and Their Derivatives

Two pentameric foldamers, Q5 and Q5C-S , containing a C−F bond were synthesized based on quinoline oligamide foldamers for the measurement of enantiomeric excess and for the determination of absolute configuration of chiral amines, diamines, amino alcohols, and α-amino acid esters. Chiral induction of Q5 was triggered in situ when the chiral analytes reacted with the C−F bond in Q5 by a N-nucleophilic substitution reaction, leading to a linear correlation between the CD amplitude at the region of quinoline chromophores and the ee values of the chiral analytes, which can be used for the ee determination of chiral analytes. Furthermore, the CD intensity of Q5C-S containing a chiral motif at its C-terminus enhances via remote, favorable chiral communication when the chiral induction was triggered in situ by chiral analytes at the N-terminus matches the original helicity of Q5C-S , but decreases via remote, conflicted chiral communication when the chiral induction is triggered in situ by chiral molecules at the N-terminus mismatches the original one. The system can thus be used for determination of the absolute configuration of chiral analytes, given that the chirality of the chiral motif at the C-terminus of Q5C-S is known.     

新型手性酪氨酸修饰的锌卟啉对氨基酸酯的分子识别研究

合成并表征了一种L型Boc酪氨酸修饰的自由卟啉(L-BocTyrTAPP)及其锌卟啉配合物Zn(L-BocTyr)TAPP.通过紫外-可见光谱滴定法,研究了手性锌卟啉配合物与四对对映异构的手性氨基酸酯客体在CHCl₃中的分子识别行为.实验结果表明,在分子识别的过程中,缔合常数顺序均为D型略大于L型,且按K(PheOMe)>K(AIaOMe)>K(ValOMe)>K(LeuOMe)的顺序依次减小.同时,利用园二色光谱进一步阐述手性分子识别过程.此外,采用分子力学方法搜索了主客体体系的最低能量构象,从理论上对实验本质进行较深入的探讨.     

Synthesis of Chiral Labtb and Visualization of Its Enantiomeric Excess by Induced Circular Dichroism Imaging

Crystalline particles of a microporous, robust, and chiral metal–organic framework (MOF) were synthesized and their enantiomer excess (ee) was visualized for each microparticle by CD imaging. Labtb, a thermally and chemically robust MOF, was employed in this study because it shows a chiral space group. Although Labtb has been obtained as a racemic conglomerate, enantioselective synthesis of Labtb was achieved via a chiral precursor complex consisting of lanthanum and homochiral phenylalanine. Methyl orange (MO) was introduced into the micropores of chiral Labtb, which showed a strong induced CD signal for the absorption band of MO chromophores. High ee of the chiral Labtb was revealed by microscopic CD observation at the particle-level. This result provides a facile way to obtain a robust MOF that has chiral nanospace.     

Synthesis and Optimization of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Metal–organic frameworks/zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (MOFs/ZIFs) and their post-synthesis modified nanostructures, such as oxides, hydroxides, and carbons have generated significant interest for electrocatalytic reactions. In this work, a high and durable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance directly from bimetallic Zn_100−xCo_x-ZIF samples is reported, without carrying out high-temperature calcination and/or carbonization. ZIFs can be reproducibly and readily synthesized in large scale at ambient conditions. The bimetallic ZIFs show a systematic and gradually improved OER activity with increasing cobalt concentration. A further increase in OER activity is evidenced in ZIF-67 polyhedrons with controlled particle size of <200 nm among samples of different sizes between 50 nm and 2 μm. Building on this, a significantly enhanced, >50 %, OER activity is obtained with ZIF-67/carbon black, which shows a low overpotential of approximately 320 mV in 1.0 m KOH electrolyte. Such activity is comparable to or better than numerous MOF/ZIF-derived electrocatalysts. The optimized ZIF-67 sample also exhibits increased activity and durability over 24 h, which is attributed to an in situ developed active cobalt oxide/oxyhydroxide related nanophase.     

Design of Single‐Site Photocatalysts by Using Metal–Organic Frameworks as a Matrix

Single‐site photocatalysts generally display excellent photocatalytic activity and considerably high stability compared with homogeneous catalytic systems. A rational structural design of single‐site photocatalysts with isolated, uniform, and spatially separated active sites in a given solid is of prime importance to achieve high photocatalytic activity. Intense attention has been focused on the design and fabrication of single‐site photocatalysts by using porous materials as a platform. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have great potential in the design and fabrication of single‐site photocatalysts due to their remarkable porosity, ultrahigh surface area, extraordinary tailorability, and significant diversity. MOFs can provide an abundant number of binding sites to anchor active sites, which results in a significant enhancement in photocatalytic performance. In this focus review, the development of single‐site MOF photocatalysts that perform important and challenging chemical redox reactions, such as photocatalytic H₂ production, photocatalytic CO₂ conversion, and organic transformations, is summarized thoroughly. Successful strategies for the construction of single‐site MOF photocatalysts are summarized and major challenges in their practical applications are noted.     

磷钼钨杂多酸修饰金属有机骨架MOF-5复合材料吸附亚甲基蓝

采用水热合成法,在合成金属有机骨架MOF-5的过程中引入活性组分磷钼钨杂多酸(H₆P₂Mo₁₅W₃O₆₂),制备出一种新型吸附剂H₆P₂Mo₁₅W₃O₆₂/MOF-5。 利用H₆P₂Mo₁₅W₃O₆₂/MOF-5材料对亚甲基蓝溶液进行了材料的吸附性能研究,探讨了亚甲基蓝溶液的初始pH值和初始浓度以及不同吸附温度对吸附量的影响。 结果表明,在较低的温度和亚甲基蓝溶液较低的初始pH值的条件下,有利于H₆P₂Mo₁₅W₃O₆₂/MOF-5对亚甲基蓝的吸附。 实验结果能够较好地符合Langmuir吸附等温式以及二级动力学模型,对亚甲基蓝的最大吸附量可达401.6 mg/g。 热力学参数ΔG<0、ΔH<0和ΔS>0,表明H₆P₂Mo₁₅W₃O₆₂/MOF-5对亚甲基蓝的吸附过程是自发、放热的。 此外,还探讨了H₆P₂Mo₁₅W₃O₆₂/MOF-5对甲基紫、孔雀石绿、罗丹明B和甲基橙等其它染料的吸附性能,结果表明,H₆P₂Mo₁₅W₃O₆₂/MOF-5对阳离子染料有较好的吸附效果。     

手性锌卟啉对咪唑类客体的分子识别及圆二色光谱的研究

研究了手性α,α,α,β－四－[邻（叔丁氧羰L－酪氨酸）氨基苯基]卟啉 锌[α,α,α,β-ZnT(o-Boc)TyrTAPP](1)和手性α,α,α,β－四－[邻（叔 丁氧羰L－丙氨酸）氨基苯基]卟啉锌[α,α,α,β-ZnT(o-BocAla)TAPP](2)对 咪唑、2－甲基咪唑、N－甲基咪唑和2－乙基－4－甲基咪唑的分子识别行为,分别 求得主体（1）对咪唑类分子识别的缔合常数顺序为K（Im)>K(2-MeIm)>K(N-MeIm) >K(2-Et-4-MeIm),主体（2）对咪唑类分子识别的缔合常数顺序为K（2－MeIm)>K (Im)>K(2-Ek-4-MeIm)>K(N-MeIm),并用圆二色光谱（CD）研究了主体1和2对咪唑 在客体在CHCl3中分子识别的光谱行为,与热力学的结果做了比较。     

Oriented Circular Dichroism Analysis of Chiral Surface‐Anchored Metal–Organic Frameworks Grown by Liquid‐Phase Epitaxy and upon Loading with Chiral Guest Compounds

Oriented circular dichroism (OCD) is explored and successfully applied to investigate chiral surface‐anchored metal–organic frameworks (SURMOFs) based on camphoric acid (D‐ and Lcam) with the composition [Cu₂(Dcam)_2x(Lcam)_2?2x(dabco)]_n (dabco=1,4‐diazabicyclo‐[2.2.2]‐octane). The three‐dimensional chiral SURMOFs with high‐quality orientation were grown on quartz glass plates by using a layer‐by‐layer liquid‐phase epitaxy method. The growth orientation, as determined by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), could be switched between the [001] and [110] direction by using either OH‐ or COOH‐terminated substrates. These SURMOFs were characterized by using OCD, which confirmed the ratio as well as the orientation of the enantiomeric linker molecules. Theoretical computations demonstrate that the OCD band intensities of the enantiopure [Cu₂(Dcam)₂(dabco)]_n grown in different orientations are a direct result of the anisotropic nature of the chiral SURMOFs. Finally, the enantiopure [Cu₂(Dcam)₂(dabco)]_n and [Cu₂(Lcam)₂(dabco)]_n SURMOFs were loaded with the two chiral forms of ethyl lactate [(+)‐ethyl‐D ‐lactate and (?)‐ethyl‐L ‐lactate)]. An enantioselective enrichment of >60 % was observed by OCD when the chiral host scaffold was loaded from the racemic mixture.     

Absolute Stereochemical Determination of Chiral Carboxylates Using an Achiral Molecular Tweezer

A new type of molecular tweezer ( 1 ) has been synthesized for the direct determination of the absolute configuration of chiral carboxylates without analyte derivatization. Upon the addition of diamine and anionic guests, 1 exhibited shifts in its absorption spectrum with clear isosbestic points. The continuous variation method indicated that both the diamine and anionic guests form 1:1 host–guest complexes with 1 with very high binding affinity. When Boc‐L ‐Ala (BLA) as a form of tetrabutylammonium salt was added to 1 , a weak negative CD signal was observed. This weak CD signal was dramatically changed to a strong positive CD couplet upon addition of achiral 1,12‐diaminododecane. Such a positive CD couplet was observed for all of the tested L ‐amino acid derivatives, while the D ‐amino acid derivatives gave the opposite signals. As a result of these unique characteristics of 1 , it can be utilized as a highly sensitive probe for the absolute stereochemical determination of chiral carboxylates.     

Selection of Planar Chiral Conformations between Pillar[5,6]arenes Induced by Amino Acid Derivatives in Aqueous Media

Chiral α-amino acids play critical roles in the metabolic process in nearly all life forms. So far, chiral recognition of α-amino acids has mainly focused on the determination of l /d enantiomers. Herein, selection of planar chiral conformations between water-soluble pillar[5]arene WP5 and pillar[6]arene WP6 was observed due to α-side chain or ethyl ester moieties of l -α-amino acid ethyl ester hydrochlorides binding with WP5 and WP6 , respectively. Therefore, α-side chain and ethyl ester moieties of l -α-amino acid ethyl ester hydrochlorides were recognized by observing the induced CD signal and its inversion. This is a rare example of being able to detect the chiral region around α-carbon of a chiral α-amino acid molecule.     

Central (S) to Central (M=Ir,Rh) to Planar (Metallocene,M=Fe,Ru) Chirality Transfer Using Sulfoxide-Substituted Mesoionic Carbene Ligands: Synthesis of Bimetallic Planar Chiral Metallocenes

Enantiopure bimetallic systems containing three different elements of chirality, namely a main-group-based chiral center (sulfur), a transition-metal chiral center (rhodium or iridium), and a planar chiral element (ferrocene or ruthenocene), have been prepared by a sequence of diastereoselective reactions. The chirality of the chiral sulfur center attached to C-5 of a 1,2,3-triazolylidene mesoionic carbene (MIC) ligand coordinated to a metal (Ir, Rh) was transferred through the formation of bimetallic complexes having a chiral-at-metal center and a planar chiral metallocene by C−H activation of the sandwich moiety (M=Fe, Ru). The sense of the planar chirality formed in this sequence of reactions depended on the nature of the ligands at the metal center of the starting complex. The configurations of these species were assigned on the basis of a combination of X-ray diffraction and CD measurements. An electrochemical study of these bimetallic complexes in coordinating solvents showed an equilibrium between the cationic complexes and the neutral species. The effect of the half-sandwich moiety on the oxidation potentials of the system is remarkable, producing notable cathodic displacements. DFT calculations support these findings.     

Direct and Post‐Synthesis Incorporation of Chiral Metallosalen Catalysts into Metal–Organic Frameworks for Asymmetric Organic Transformations

Two chiral porous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) were constructed from [VO(salen)]‐derived dicarboxylate and dipyridine bridging ligands. After oxidation of V^IV to V^V, they were found to be highly effective, recyclable, and reusable heterogeneous catalysts for the asymmetric cyanosilylation of aldehydes with up to 95 % ee. Solvent‐assisted linker exchange (SALE) treatment of the pillared‐layer MOF with [Cr(salen)Cl]‐ or [Al(salen)Cl]‐derived dipyridine ligands led to the formation of mixed‐linker metallosalen‐based frameworks and incorporation of [Cr(salen)] enabled its use as a heterogeneous catalyst in the asymmetric epoxide ring‐opening reaction.     

Fluorescent Cadmium Bipillared-Layer Open Frameworks: Synthesis,Structures, Sensing of Nitro Compounds,and Capture of Volatile Iodine

Fluorescent Cd metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), [Cd₂(dicarboxylate)₂(NI-bpy-44)₂] (dicarboxylate=benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate (1,4-bdc, 1 ), 2-bromobenzene-1,4-dicarboxylate (Br-1,4-bdc, 2 ), 2-nitrobenzene-1,4-dicarboxylate (NO₂-1,4-bdc, 3 ), biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylate (bpdc, 4 ); NI-bpy-44=N-(pyridin-4-yl)-4-(pyridin-4-yl)-1,8-naphthalimide)), featuring non- and twofold interpenetrating pcu -type bipillared-layer open structures with sufficient free voids of 58.4, 51.4, 51.5, and 41.4 %, respectively, have been hydro(solvo)thermally synthesized. MOFs 1 – 4 emitted solid-state blue or cyan fluorescence emissions at 447±7 nm, which mainly arose from NI-bpy-44 and are dependent on the incorporated solvents. After immersing the crystalline samples in different solvents, that is, H₂O and DMSO ( 1 and 2 ) as well as nitrobenzene and phenol ( 1 – 4 ), they exhibited a remarkable fluorescence quenching effect, whereas o-xylene and p-xylene ( 4 ) caused significant fluorescence enhancement. The sensing ability of MOFs 1 – 4 toward nitro compounds carried out in the vapor phase showed that nitrobenzene and 2-nitrophenol displayed detectable fluorescence quenching with 1 , 2 , and 4 whereas 4-nitrotoluene was an effective fluorescence quencher for 1 and 2 ; this is most likely attributed to their electron-deficient properties and higher vapor pressures. Moreover, MOFs 1 – 4 are highly reusable for quick capture of volatile iodine, as supported by clear crystal color change and also by immense fluorescence quenching responses owing to the donor–acceptor interaction. Low-pressure CO₂ adsorption isotherms indicate that activated materials 1′ – 4′ are inefficient at taking up CO₂.     

Post-Synthetic Modification of Porphyrin-Encapsulating Metal-Organic Materials by Cooperative Addition of Inorganic Salts to Enhance CO(2) /CH(4) Selectivity

Keeping MOM: Reaction of biphenyl-3,4',5-tricarboxylate and Cd(NO(3) )(2) in the presence of meso-tetra(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphine tetratosylate afforded porph@MOM-11, a microporous metal-organic material (MOM) that encapsulates cationic porphyrins and solvent in alternating open channels. Porph@MOM-11 has cation and anion binding sites that facilitate cooperative addition of inorganic salts (such as M(+) Cl(-) ) in a stoichiometric fashion.     

Chiroptical Sensing of Amino Acid Derivatives by Host–Guest Complexation with Cyclo[6]aramide

A hydrogen-bonded (H-bonded) amide macrocycle was found to serve as an effective component in the host–guest assembly for a supramolecular chirality transfer process. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy studies showed that the near-planar macrocycle could produce a CD response when combined with three of the twelve L-α-amino acid esters (all cryptochiral molecules) tested as possible guests. The host–guest complexation between the macrocycle and cationic guests was explored using NMR, revealing the presence of a strong affinity involving the multi-point recognition of guests. This was further corroborated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The present work proposes a new strategy for amplifying the CD signals of cryptochiral molecules by means of H-bonded macrocycle-based host–guest association, and is expected to be useful in designing supramolecular chiroptical sensing materials.