Ab Initio and DFT Studies on CO2 Interacting with Znq+–Imidazole (q=0, 1, 2) Complexes: Prediction of Charge Transfer through σ‐ or π‐Type Models

Using first‐principles methodologies, the equilibrium structures and the relative stability of CO₂@[Zn^q+Im] (where q=0, 1, 2; Im=imidazole) complexes are studied to understand the nature of the interactions between the CO₂ and Zn^q+–imidazole entities. These complexes are considered as prototype models mimicking the interactions of CO₂ with these subunits of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks or Zn enzymes. These computations are performed using both ab initio calculations and density functional theory. Dispersion effects accounting for long‐range interactions are considered. Solvent (water) effects were also considered using a polarizable continuum model approach. Natural bond orbital, charge, frontier orbital and vibrational analyses clearly reveal the occurrence of charge transfer through covalent and noncovalent interactions. Moreover, it is found that CO₂ can adsorb through more favorable π‐type stacking as well as σ‐type hydrogen‐bonding interactions. The inter‐monomer interaction potentials show a significant anisotropy that might induce CO₂ orientation and site‐selectivity effects in porous materials and in active sites of Zn enzymes. Hence, this study provides valuable information about how CO₂ adsorption takes place at the microscopic level within zeolitic imidazolate frameworks and biomolecules. These findings might help in understanding the role of such complexes in chemistry, biology and material science for further development of new materials and industrial applications.     

Non‐3d Metal Modulation of a Cobalt Imidazolate Framework for Excellent Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution in Neutral Media

Cobalt imidazolate frameworks are classical electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) but suffer from the relatively low activity. Here, a non‐3d metal modulation strategy is presented for enhancing the OER activity of cobalt imidazolate frameworks. Two isomorphous frameworks [Co₄(MO₄)(eim)₆] (M=Mo or W, Heim=2‐ethylimidazole) having Co(eim)₃(MO₄) units and high water stabilities were designed and synthesized. In different neutral media, the Mo‐modulated framework coated on a glassy carbon electrode shows the best OER performances (1 mA cm^?2 at an overpotential of 210 mV in CO₂‐saturated 0.5 m KHCO₃ electrolyte and 2/10/22 mA cm^?2 at overpotential of 388/490/570 mV in phosphate buffer solution) among non‐precious metal catalysts and even outperforms RuO₂. Spectroscopic measurements and computational simulations revealed that the non‐3d metals modulate the electronic structure of Co for optimum reactant/product adsorption and tailor the energy of rate‐determining step to a more moderate value.     

Boosting Electrochemical CO2 Reduction on Metal–Organic Frameworks via Ligand Doping

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction relies on the availability of highly efficient and selective catalysts. Herein, we report a general strategy to boost the activity of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) towards CO₂ reduction via ligand doping. A strong electron‐donating molecule of 1,10‐phenanthroline was doped into Zn‐based MOFs of zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) as CO₂ reduction electrocatalyst. Experimental and theoretical evidences reveal that the electron‐donating nature of phenanthroline enables a charge transfer, which induces adjacent active sites at the sp² C atoms in the imidazole ligand possessing more electrons, and facilitates the generation of *COOH, hence leading to improved activity and Faradaic efficiency towards CO production.     

Expanded Organic Building Units for the Construction of Highly Porous Metal–Organic Frameworks

Two new organic building units that contain dicarboxylate sites for their self‐assembly with paddlewheel [Cu₂(CO₂)₄] units have been successfully developed to construct two isoreticular porous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), ZJU‐35 and ZJU‐36, which have the same tbo topologies (Reticular Chemistry Structure Resource (RCSR) symbol) as HKUST‐1. Because the organic linkers in ZJU‐35 and ZJU‐36 are systematically enlarged, the pores in these two new porous MOFs vary from 10.8 Å in HKUST‐1 to 14.4 Å in ZJU‐35 and 16.5 Å in ZJU‐36, thus leading to their higher porosities with Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas of 2899 and 4014 m² g^?1 for ZJU‐35 and ZJU‐36, respectively. High‐pressure gas‐sorption isotherms indicate that both ZJU‐35 and ZJU‐36 can take up large amounts of CH₄ and CO₂, and are among the few porous MOFs with the highest volumetric storage of CH₄ under 60 bar and CO₂ under 30 bar at room temperature. Their potential for high‐pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification was also preliminarily examined and compared with several reported MOFs, thus indicating the potential of ZJU‐35 and ZJU‐36 for this important application. Studies show that most of the highly porous MOFs that can volumetrically take up the greatest amount of CH₄ under 60 bar and CO₂ under 30 bar at room temperature are those self‐assembled from organic tetra‐ and hexacarboxylates that contain m‐benzenedicarboxylate units with the [Cu₂(CO₂)₄] units, because this series of MOFs can have balanced porosities, suitable pores, and framework densities to optimize their volumetric gas storage. The realization of the two new organic building units for their construction of highly porous MOFs through their self‐assembly with [Cu₂(CO₂)₄] units has provided great promise for the exploration of a large number of new tetra‐ and hexacarboxylate organic linkers based on these new organic building units in which different aromatic backbones can be readily incorporated into the frameworks to tune their porosities, pore structures, and framework densities, thus targeting some even better performing MOFs for very high gas storage and efficient gas separation under high pressure and at room temperature in the near future.     

An Isoreticular Family of Microporous Metal–Organic Frameworks Based on Zinc and 2‐Substituted Imidazolate‐4‐amide‐5‐imidate: Syntheses,Structures and Properties

We report on a new series of isoreticular frameworks based on zinc and 2‐substituted imidazolate‐4‐amide‐5‐imidate (IFP‐1–4, IFP=imidazolate framework Potsdam) that form one‐dimensional, microporous hexagonal channels. Varying R in the 2‐substitued linker (R=Me (IFP‐1), Cl (IFP‐2), Br (IFP‐3), Et (IFP‐4)) allowed the channel diameter (4.0–1.7 Å), the polarisability and functionality of the channel walls to be tuned. Frameworks IFP‐2, IFP‐3 and IFP‐4 are isostructural to previously reported IFP‐1. The structures of IFP‐2 and IFP‐3 were solved by X‐ray crystallographic analyses. The structure of IFP‐4 was determined by a combination of PXRD and structure modelling and was confirmed by IR spectroscopy and ¹H MAS and ¹³C CP‐MAS NMR spectroscopy. All IFPs showed high thermal stability (345–400 °C); IFP‐1 and IFP‐4 were stable in boiling water for 7 d. A detailed porosity analysis was performed on the basis of adsorption measurements by using various gases. The potential of the materials to undergo specific interactions with CO₂ was investigated by measuring the isosteric heats of adsorption. The capacity to adsorb CH₄ (at 298 K), CO₂ (at 298 K) and H₂ (at 77 K) at high pressure were also investigated. In situ IR spectroscopy showed that CO₂ is physisorbed on IFP‐1–4 under dry conditions and that both CO₂ and H₂O are physisorbed on IFP‐1 under moist conditions.     

Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilization with Isomeric Forms of Bis(amino)-Tagged Zinc Bipyrazolate Metal–Organic Frameworks

Aiming at extending the tagged zinc bipyrazolate metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) family, the ligand 3,3’-diamino-4,4’-bipyrazole ( 3,3’-H₂L ) has been synthesized in good yield. The reaction with zinc(II) acetate hydrate led to the related MOF Zn(3,3’-L) . The compound is isostructural with its mono(amino) analogue Zn(BPZNH₂) and with Zn(3,5-L) , its isomeric parent built with 3,5-diamino-4,4’-bipyrazole. The textural analysis has unveiled its micro-/mesoporous nature, with a BET area of 463 m² g⁻¹. Its CO₂ adsorption capacity (17.4 wt. % CO₂ at p_CO2 = 1 bar and T = 298 K) and isosteric heat of adsorption (Q_st = 24.8 kJ mol⁻¹) are comparable to that of Zn(3,5-L) . Both Zn(3,3’-L) and Zn(3,5-L) have been tested as heterogeneous catalysts in the reaction of CO₂ with the epoxides epichlorohydrin and epibromohydrin to give the corresponding cyclic carbonates at T = 393 K and p_CO2 = 5 bar under solvent- and co-catalyst-free conditions. In general, the conversions recorded are higher than those found for Zn(BPZNH₂), proving that the insertion of an extra amino tag in the pores is beneficial for the epoxidation catalysis. The best catalytic match has been observed for the Zn(3,5-L) /epichlorohydrin couple, with 64 % conversion and a TOF of 5.3 mmol(carbonate) (mmol_Zn)⁻¹ h⁻¹. To gain better insights on the MOF-epoxide interaction, the crystal structure of the [epibromohydrin@ Zn(3,3’-L) ] adduct has been solved, confirming the existence of Br⋅⋅⋅(H)−N non-bonding interactions. To our knowledge, this study represents the first structural determination of a [epibromohydrin@MOF] adduct.     

Assembly of 3D Coordination Polymers from 2D Sheets by [2+2] Cycloaddition Reaction

The synthesis of three 2D interdigitated Zn^II coordination polymers (CPs), by using three monotopic ligands containing C?C bonds, is reported. Among these, two CPs with 4spy (4‐styryl pyridine) and 2F‐4spy (a 2′‐fluoro derivative of 4spy) ligands showed quantitative formation of cyclobutane rings, thus demonstrating a unique synthetic procedure to synthesize metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) by using this photochemical reaction. Interestingly, these compounds can also be synthesized by mechanochemical grinding procedures by using Zn(OAc)₂. In contrast, Zn(NO₃)₂ did not yield the required product, unlike in the solution route. In addition, compounds with 4vpy (4‐vinylpyridine), 4spy and 2F‐4spy ligands created different units in the CPs; 4vpy and 2F‐4spy furnished paddle wheel units, whereas 4spy yielded tetrahedral Zn^II repeating units. Furthermore, the change in coordination geometry manifests in the photoluminescence properties, attributed to the difference in charge‐transfer and ligand‐centered fluorescent phenomenon.     

A Luminescent Zinc(II) Coordination Polymer for Selective Detection of Fe3+ and Cr2O72− in Water and Catalytic CO2 Fixation

Fluorescence-based detection technique using coordination polymer has been considered an attractive alternative over conventional approaches. Herein, a new luminescent zinc(II) coordination polymer, [Zn(4-ABPT)(NIPA)(H₂O)], SSICG-5 , is synthesized by using a Lewis acidic Zn(II) ion, aromatic nitro group containing ligand 5-nitroisophthalic acid (H₂NIPA), and basic −NH₂ rich ligand 3,5-di(pyridine-4-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-amine (4-ABPT). SSICG-5 can detect Fe³⁺ and Cr₂O₇²⁻ selectively with a LOD of 0.16 μM and 1.94 μM, respectively. Additionally, carbon dioxide (CO₂) fixation via one-pot CO₂ cycloaddition reaction has significant importance for reduced waste formation, minimizing reaction time and lowering chemical usage. Zn metal centre of SSICG-5 possesses a replaceable coordinated water molecule. The active metal sites combined with the Lewis acidic and basic sites of the ligands make SSICG-5 an ideal bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst for efficient CO₂ cycloaddition reaction under room temperature (RT), solvent-free conditions. Notably, SSICG-5 exhibits near quantitative conversion (turnover number (TON) of 198) of propylene oxide to its carbonate compound under mild reaction conditions.     

Imidazolium Ionic Liquids,Imidazolylidene Heterocyclic Carbenes,and Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks for CO2 Capture and Photochemical Reduction

Imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs), imidazolylidene N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), and zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are imidazolate motifs which have been extensively investigated for CO₂ adsorption and conversion applications. Summarized in this minireview is the recent progress in the capture, activation, and photochemical reduction of CO₂ with these three imidazolate building blocks, from homogeneous molecular entities (ILs and NHCs) to heterogeneous crystalline scaffolds (ZIFs). The developments and existing shortcomings of the imidazolate motifs for their use in CO₂ utilizations is assessed, with more of focus on CO₂ photoredox catalysis. The opportunities and challenges of imidazolate scaffolds for future advancement of CO₂ photochemical conversion for artificial photosynthesis are discussed.     

POM‐Catalyzed In Situ Ligand Synthesis for the Construction of Metal Complexes and Their Use in the Formation of Coordination Polymers

Six organic–inorganic hybrid materials were synthesized by the in situ oxidation of neocuproine by using MoO₃/Na₂MoO₄ as the catalyst in the presence of Cu(NO₃)₂. The crystal structures of Mo8‐Cu4‐PHEN and Mo8‐Cu2‐5(2PIC) are composed of [Mo₈O₂₆]^4? polyoxometalate (POM) units, whereas the crystal structure of Mo6‐Cu‐COPHEN is composed of a [Mo₆O₁₉]^2? POM unit; both POM units could be considered as the active form of the catalyst. Reaction of the hybrid materials with 1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC) resulted in the formation of two different coordination polymers (CPs) under different reaction conditions. These CPs, depending on their structural attributes, exhibit distinct differences in the adsorption of H₂, CO₂, and water. The use of 2‐methylpyridine instead of neocuproine does not give any oxidation products under the same reaction conditions due to the incorrect positioning of the methyl group with respect to the Cu^II center.     

Salen-Cu(Ⅱ)@MIL-101(Cr) as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for cycloaddition of CO_2 to epoxides under mild conditions

A double active center system, namely Salen-Cu(Ⅱ)@MIL-101(Cr), was successfully synthesized via the"ship in a bottle" approach, which acted as a bifunctional material for both capture and conversion of CO_2 in a single process. For the first time, Salen-Cu(Ⅱ)@MIL-101(Cr) catalyst was developed for the synthesis of propylene carbonate from CO_2 and propylene oxide under room temperature and ambient pressure with a yield of 87.8% over 60 h. Furthermore, the reaction mechanism was also discussed.     

Cobalt Imidazolate Metal–Organic Frameworks Photosplit CO2 under Mild Reaction Conditions

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown great promise for CO₂ capture and storage. However, the operation of chemical redox functions of framework substances and organic CO₂‐trapping entities which are spatially linked together to catalyze CO₂ conversion has had much less attention. Reported herein is a cobalt‐containing zeolitic imidazolate framework (Co‐ZIF‐9) which serves as a robust MOF cocatalyst to reduce CO₂ by cooperating with a ruthenium‐based photosensitizer. The catalytic turnover number of Co‐ZIF‐9 was about 450 within 2.5 hours under mild reaction conditions, while still keeping its original reactivity during prolonged operation.     

Selective reduction of nitroarenes to N-arylhydroxylamines by use of Zn in a CO2–H2O system, promoted by ultrasound

The promoting effect of ultrasound on the selective reduction of nitroarenes to N-arylhydroxylamines by use of Zn in an environmentally benign CO₂–H₂O system has been demonstrated. The yield of N-phenylhydroxylamine reaches 95 % when the reaction is carried out with a Zn-to-nitrobenzene molar ratio of 2.2 under ultrasound (40 kHz) at 25 °C and normal pressure of CO₂ for 60 min. Application of ultrasound to the reaction has the advantages of higher yield of N-arylhydroxylamines, shorter reaction time, and consumption of less Zn.     

Study of the Discrepancies between Crystallographic Porosity and Guest Access into Cadmium–Imidazolate Frameworks and Tunable Luminescence Properties by Incorporation of Lanthanides

An extended member of the isoreticular family of metal–imidazolate framework structures, IFP‐6 (IFP=imidazolate framework Potsdam), based on cadmium metal and an in situ functionalized 2‐methylimidazolate‐4‐amide‐5‐imidate linker is reported. A porous 3D framework with 1D hexagonal channels with accessible pore windows of 0.52 nm has been synthesized by using an ionic liquid (IL) linker precursor. IFP‐6 shows significant gas uptake capacity only for CO₂ and CH₄ at elevated pressure, whereas it does not adsorb N₂, H₂, and CH₄ under atmospheric conditions. IFP‐6 is assumed to deteriorate at the outside of the material during the activation process. This closing of the metal–organic framework (MOF) pores is proven by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), which revealed inherent crystal defects. PALS results support the conservation of the inner pores of IFP‐6. IFP‐6 has also been successfully loaded with luminescent trivalent lanthanide ions (Ln^III=Tb, Eu, and Sm) in a bottom‐up one‐pot reaction through the in situ generation of the linker ligand and in situ incorporation of photoluminescent Ln ions into the constituting network. The results of photoluminescence investigations and powder XRD provide evidence that the Ln ions are not doped as connectivity centers into the frameworks, but are instead located within the pores of the MOFs. Under UV light irradiation, Tb@IFP‐6 and Eu@IFP‐6 (λ_exc=365 nm) exhibit observable emission changes to a greenish and reddish color, respectively, as a result of strong Ln 4 f emissions.     

Highly Porous Metalloporphyrin Covalent Ionic Frameworks with Well-Defined Cooperative Functional Groups as Excellent Catalysts for CO2 Cycloaddition

The development of multifunctional heterogeneous catalysts with high porosity and remarkable catalytic activity still remains a challenge. Herein, four highly porous metalloporphyrin covalent ionic frameworks (CIFs) were synthesized by coupling 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-nitrophenyl)porphyrin (TNPP) with 3,8-diamino-6-phenylphenanithridine (NPPN) or 5,5′-diamino-2,2′-bipyridine (NBPy) followed by ionization with bromoethane (C₂H₅Br) or dibromoethane (C₂H₄Br₂) and then metalization with Zn or Co. The resulting CIFs showed high efficiency in catalyzing the cycloaddition of propylene oxide (PO) with CO₂ to form propylene carbonate (PC). All of the Zn-containing CIF catalysts were able to catalyze the cycloaddition reaction with a PC yield greater than 97 %. The TNPP/NBPy (CIF2) catalyst ionized with C₂H₄Br₂ and metalized with Zn (Zn-CIF2-C₂H₄) exhibited the highest catalytic activity among the synthesized catalysts. The high catalytic performance of Zn-CIF2-C₂H₄ is related to its high porosity (577 m² g⁻¹), high Br:metal ratio (1:3.89), and excellent synergistic action between the Lewis acidic Zn sites and the nucleophilic Br⁻ ions. Zn-CIF2-C₂H₄ is sufficiently stable that greater than 94 % PC yield could be obtained even after six cycles. In addition, Zn-CIF2-C₂H₄ could catalyze the cycloaddition of several other epoxides with CO₂. These highly porous materials are promising multifunctional and efficient catalysts for industrially relevant reactions.     

Carbon Dioxide Sensitivity of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks of zinc, cobalt, and cadmium, including the framework ZIF‐8 commercially sold as Basolite Z1200, exhibit surprising sensitivity to carbon dioxide under mild conditions. The frameworks chemically react with CO₂ in the presence of moisture or liquid water to form carbonates. This effect, which has been previously not reported in metal–organic framework chemistry, provides an explanation for conflicting reports on ZIF‐8 stability to water and is of outstanding significance for evaluating the potential applications of metal–organic frameworks, especially for CO₂ sequestration.     

Synthese und Eigenschaften von Triphenylzinnmolybdaten mit kettenförmigen Anionen des Typs 1∞[(Ph3Sn)MoO4]–. Die Kristallstrukturen von (nPr4N)[(Ph3Sn)MoO4]·CH3CN, (nBu4N)[(Ph3Sn)MoO4], [Zn(en)2(Ph3Sn)2(MoO4)2]·2DMF·EtOH und [Cu(en)2(Ph3Sn)2(MoO4)2]·2DMF·EtOH

The reaction of Ph₃SnCl, (R₄N)₂[Mo₆O₁₉] and (R₄N)OH in a molar ratio of 6:1:10 leads to the formation of (R₄N)[(Ph₃Sn)MoO₄] (R = ⁿPr ( 1 ), ⁿBu ( 2 )). Compounds 1· CH₃CN and 2 have been charactarized by IR spectroscopy and single crystal X‐ray diffraction. 1· CH₃CN forms orthorhombic crystals, space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a = 1339.9(2), b = 1508.9(2), c = 1733.2(3) pm. 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁ with a = 1342.6(2), b = 2280.3(4), c = 1344.0(2) pm, β = 118.34(1). Both compounds 1 and 2 consist of isolated R₄N⁺ cations and polymeric $\rm^{1}_{\infty}$ [(Ph₃Sn)MoO₄]^– chains with an alternating arrangement of Ph₃Sn⁺ and MoO₄^2– groups. Treatment of (Ph₃Sn)₂MoO₄ with bis(ethylenediamine)copper(II) succinate yields [Cu(en)₂(Ph₃Sn)₂(MoO₄)₂] ( 3 ). The zinc derivative [Zn(en)₂(Ph₃Sn)₂(MoO₄)₂] ( 4 ) is obtained similarly by reaction of (Ph₃Sn)₂MoO₄ with bis(ethylenediamine)zinc(II) formiate. Compounds 3· 2DMF · EtOH and 4· 2DMF · EtOH crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a = 1998.0(2), b = 1313.3(1), c = 2181.6(2) pm, β = 90.97(1)° for 3 and a = 2015.4(1), b = 1316.7(1), c = 2157.0(1) pm, β = 90.40(1)° for 4 . Like in the cases of 1 and 2, polymeric $\rm^{1}_{\infty}$ [(Ph₃Sn)MoO₄]^– chains are observed. The [M(en)₂]²⁺ units (M = Cu, Zn) act as linkers between the $\rm^{1}_{\infty}$ [(Ph₃Sn)MoO₄]^– chains to give 2D layer structures with (6, 3) net topology.     

Selective Capture of Carbon Dioxide under Humid Conditions by Hydrophobic Chabazite‐Type Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks

Hydrophobic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with the chabazite ( CHA ) topology are synthesized by incorporating two distinct imidazolate links. Zn(2‐mIm)_0.86(bbIm)_1.14 (ZIF‐300), Zn(2‐mIm)_0.94(cbIm)_1.06 (ZIF‐301), and Zn(2‐mIm)_0.67(mbIm)_1.33 (ZIF‐302), where 2‐mIm=2‐methylimidazolate, bbIm=5(6)‐bromobenzimidazolate, cbIm=5(6)‐chlorobenzimidazolate, and mbIm=5(6)‐methylbenzimidazolate, were prepared by reacting zinc nitrate tetrahydrate and 2‐mIm with the respective bIm link in a mixture of N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and water. Their structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and their permanent porosity shown. All of these structures are hydrophobic as confirmed by water adsorption isotherms. All three ZIFs are equally effective at the dynamic separation of CO₂ from N₂ under both dry and humid conditions without any loss of performance over three cycles and can be regenerated simply by using a N₂ flow at ambient temperature.     

Stable Heterometallic Cluster‐Based Organic Framework Catalysts for Artificial Photosynthesis

A series of stable heterometallic Fe₂M cluster‐based MOFs ( NNU‐31‐M , M=Co, Ni, Zn) photocatalysts are presented. They can achieve the overall conversion of CO₂ and H₂O into HCOOH and O₂ without the assistance of additional sacrificial agent and photosensitizer. The heterometallic cluster units and photosensitive ligands excited by visible light generate separated electrons and holes. Then, low‐valent metal M accepts electrons to reduce CO₂, and high‐valent Fe uses holes to oxidize H₂O. This is the first MOF photocatalyst system to finish artificial photosynthetic full reaction. It is noted that NNU‐31‐Zn exhibits the highest HCOOH yield of 26.3 μmol g^?1 h^?1 (selectivity of ca. 100 %). Furthermore, the DFT calculations based on crystal structures demonstrate the photocatalytic reaction mechanism. This work proposes a new strategy for how to design crystalline photocatalyst to realize artificial photosynthetic overall reaction.