Synthetic Strategies for Constructing Two‐Dimensional Metal‐Organic Layers (MOLs): A Tutorial Review

Two‐dimensional (2D) metal‐organic layers (MOLs) are the 2D version of metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) with nanometer thickness in one dimension. MOLs are also known as 2D‐MOFs, 2D coordination polymers, ultrathin MOF nanosheets (UMOFNs) or coordination nanosheets in literature. This new category of 2D materials has attracted a lot of interests because of the opportunity in combining molecular chemistry, surface/interface chemistry and material chemistry of low dimensional materials in these systems. Several synthetic strategies have been developed for the construction of 2D MOLs, but the general synthesis of MOLs still presents a challenge. This tutorial level review summarizes the recent progress in the fabrication of novel 2D MOLs and aims to highlight challenges in this field.     

Site‐Selective Synthesis of Janus‐type Metal‐Organic Framework Composites

Herein, bipolar electrochemistry is applied in a straightforward way to the site‐selective in situ synthesis of metal–organic framework (MOF) structures, which have attracted tremendous interest in recent years because of their significant application potential, ranging from sensing to gas storage and catalysis. The novelty of the presented work is that the deposit can be intentionally confined to a defined area of a substrate without using masks or templates. The intrinsic site‐selectivity of bipolar electrochemistry makes it a method of choice to generate, in a highly controlled way, hybrid particles that may have different functionalities combined on the same particle. The wireless nature of electrodeposition allows the potential for mass production of such Janus‐type objects.     

Synthesis,Structure and Magnetic Property of a Cobalt(II) Metal‐Organic Framework

The three‐dimensional (3D) porous cobalt(II) metal‐organic framework (MOF), [Co₃(L)₂(DMA)₂(MeOH)₂ · 4(DMA) · 6(MeOH)]_n ( 1 ) [L = fully deprotonated 2,7‐bis(4‐benzoic acid)‐N‐(4‐benzoic acid) carbazole, DMA = N,N‐dimethylacetamide], was synthesized by hydrothermal reaction. Based on X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction, structural analysis indicates that complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group. Complex 1 possesses a 3,6‐connected three‐dimensional (3D) topological structure with a point symbol of {4² · 6}₂{4⁴ · 6² · 8⁷ · 10²} when a trinuclear Co^II cluster was regarded as 6‐connected node and the organic ligands could be regarded as 3‐connected linkers between the 6‐connected nodes. The framework structure exhibits a one‐dimension (1D) channel with an accessible void of 4223.0 ų, amounting to 42.8 % of the total unit‐cell volume (9862.0 ų). Moreover, the magnetic properties of complex 1 were studied.     

Strain‐Induced Isomerization in One‐Dimensional Metal–Organic Chains

The ability to use mechanical strain to steer chemical reactions creates completely new opportunities for solution‐ and solid‐phase synthesis of functional molecules and materials. However, this strategy is not readily applied in the bottom‐up on‐surface synthesis of well‐defined nanostructures. We report an internal strain‐induced skeletal rearrangement of one‐dimensional (1D) metal–organic chains (MOCs) via a concurrent atom shift and bond cleavage on Cu(111) at room temperature. The process involves Cu‐catalyzed debromination of organic monomers to generate 1,5‐dimethylnaphthalene diradicals that coordinate to Cu adatoms, forming MOCs with both homochiral and heterochiral naphthalene backbone arrangements. Bond‐resolved non‐contact atomic force microscopy imaging combined with density functional theory calculations showed that the relief of substrate‐induced internal strain drives the skeletal rearrangement of MOCs via 1,3‐H shifts and shift of Cu adatoms that enable migration of the monomer backbone toward an energetically favorable registry with the Cu(111) substrate. Our findings on this strain‐induced structural rearrangement in 1D systems will enrich the toolbox for on‐surface synthesis of novel functional materials and quantum nanostructures.     

Amine‐Templated One‐Dimensional Metal Sulfates Including a Mixed‐Valent Fe Compound with a Half‐Kagome Structure

Organically templated metal sulfates are relatively new. Six amine‐templated transition‐metal sulfates with different types of chain structures, including a novel iron sulfate with a chain structure corresponding to one half of the kagome structure, were synthesized by hydro/solvothermal methods. Amongst the one‐dimensional metal sulfates, [C₁₀N₂H₁₀][Zn(SO₄)Cl₂] ( 1 ) is the simplest, being formed by corner‐linked ZnO₂Cl₂ and SO₄ tetrahedra. [C₆N₂H₁₈][Mn(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₂] ( 2 ) and [C₂N₂H₁₀][Ni(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₂] ( 3 ) have ladder structures comprising four‐membered rings formed by SO₄ tetrahedra and metal–oxygen octahedra, just as in the mineral kröhnkite. [C₄N₂H₁₂][V^III(OH)(SO₄)₂]?H₂O ( 4 ) and [C₄N₂H₁₂][VF₃(SO₄)] ( 5 ) exhibit chain topologies of the minerals tancoite and butlerite, respectively. The structure of [C₄N₂H₁₂][H₃O][Fe^IIIFe^II F₆(SO₄)] ( 6 ) is noteworthy in that it corresponds to half of the hexagonal kagome structure. It exhibits ferrimagnetic properties at low temperatures and the absence of frustration, unlike the mixed‐valent iron sulfate with the full kagome structure.     

A Fluorescent Zirconium‐Based Metal‐Organic Framework for Selective Detection of Nitro Explosives and Metal Ions

In this work, a new porous Zr‐based metal‐organic framework (MOF ) with a large Brunner‐Emmet‐Teller (BET ) surface area was prepared by the solvothermal method using 4,4’‐(naphthalene‐1,4‐diyl)dibenzoic acid (NDDA ) as the organic ligand, and the luminescent detection performance was studied systematically. The experiments combing with computations indicate that the as‐synthesized material can sensitively and selectively detect nitro explosives and metal ions, especially for 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol (TNP ) and Fe³⁺, due to the possible electron transfer from inorganic moieties to organic moieties with naphthalene part. Interestingly, owing to its high porosity and large surface area, this Zr‐MOF showed quick luminescent response time (in 1 min) for TNP and Fe³⁺. The results obtained may provide useful information for the design of MOFs with the large permanent porosity in sensing applications for large molecules in the future.     

Design,Synthesis, and X‐Ray Crystal Structure of a Fullerene‐Linked Metal–Organic Framework

Given the unique structural and electronic properties of C₆₀, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) containing C₆₀ linkers are expected to exhibit interesting characteristics. A new hexakisfullerene derivative possessing two pairs of phenyl pyridine groups attached to two methano‐carbon atoms located at the trans‐1 positions was designed and synthesized. The four pyridyl nitrogen atoms define a perfectly planar rectangle. This new C₆₀ derivative was used to assemble the first fullerene‐linked two‐dimensional MOF by coordination with Cd²⁺.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Photoluminescent Properties of a New 3D Metal‐Organic Framework with Unusual AgI Chains

A new 3D metal‐organic framework {[Ag₄(btc)(bix)₂] · H₂O}_n ( 1 ) [H₄btc = biphenyl‐2, 2′,4, 4′‐tetracarboxylic acid, bix = 1, 4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene] was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and luminescence studies. The most remarkable structural feature of 1 is that the 1D chain and 2D network interpenetrated structures are further linked by parallel aligned 1D Ag^I chains to generate 3D metal‐organic framework.     

The First One‐Pot Synthesis of Metal–Organic Frameworks Functionalised with Two Transition‐Metal Complexes

The synthesis of a metal–organic framework (UiO‐67) functionalised simultaneously with two different transition metal complexes (Ir and Pd or Rh) through a one‐pot procedure is reported for the first time. This has been achieved by an iterative modification of the synthesis parameters combined with characterisation of the resulting materials using different techniques, including X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The method also allows the first synthesis of UiO‐67 with a very wide range of loadings (from 4 to 43 mol %) of an iridium complex ([IrCp*(bpydc)(Cl)Cl]^2?; bpydc=2,2′‐bipyridine‐5,5′‐dicarboxylate, Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) through a pre‐functionalisation methodology.     

Transition‐Metal‐Free One‐Pot Synthesis of Biaryls from Grignard Reagents and Substituted Cyclohexanones

A new strategy for the construction of biaryls by a transition‐metal‐free process is presented. A sequence of a Grignard reaction, dehydration, and oxidative aromatization affords the desired products in a one‐pot fashion.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of an Alternating Copolyimide Based on Regioselective Reaction of a Non‐Symmetrical Alicyclic Dianhydride

Summary: Four constitutionally isomeric copoly(amide acid)s (coPAAs), two alternating and two random, have been successfully obtained from the same combination of one non‐symmetrical alicyclic tetracarboxylic dianhydride (1.0 molar equivalents) and two symmetric aromatic diamines (0.5 molar equivalents each) by only slightly changing the reaction procedures. When the reaction mixture is subjected to chemical imidization conditions without isolation of coPAAs, the corresponding copolyimides (coPIs) are obtained in one pot. All of the coPIs are slightly yellow amorphous powders and the solubility of them is similar to each other. The glass transition temperatures of the alternating coPIs are lower in comparison to those of the random coPIs.

Schematic of the possible arrangement of monomers in the copoly(amide acid)s/copolyimides synthesized here.     

A Polyhedron‐based Metal‐Organic Framework showing high CO2 Adsorption Capacity

A novel porous copper‐based metal‐organic framework {[Cu₂(TTDA)₂]*(DMA)₇}_n ( 1 ) (DMA = N,N‐dimethylacetamide) was designed and synthesized via the combination of a dual‐functional organic linker 5′‐(4‐(4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐yl)phenyl)‐[1,1′:3′,1′′‐terphenyl]‐4,4′′‐dicarboxylic acid (H₂TTDA) and a dinuclear Cu^II paddle‐wheel cluster. This MOF is characterized by elemental analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The framework is constructed from two types of cages (octahedral and cuboctahedral cages) and exhibits two types of circular‐shaped channels of approximate size of 5.8 and 11.4 Å along the crystallographic c axis. The gas sorption experiments indicate that it possesses a large surface area (1687 m² · g^–1) and high CO₂ adsorption capacities around room temperature (up to 172 cm³ · g^–1 at 273 K and 124 cm³ · g^–1 at 298 K).     

A Stable Polyoxometalate‐Pillared Metal–Organic Framework for Proton‐Conducting and Colorimetric Biosensing

A stable metal–organic framework pillared by Keggin‐type polyoxometalate, Cu₆(Trz)₁₀(H₂O)₄[H₂SiW₁₂O₄₀]?8 H₂O (Trz=1,2,4‐triazole) ( 1 ), has been prepared under hydrothermal condition. The 2D layer structure with a 22‐member ring was formed by Cu²⁺ ions, which are connected with each other via the Trz ligands on the ab plane. Thus, the 2D layers are further interconnected through Keggin polyoxoanions to generate a 3D porous network with a small 1D channel. Moreover, the presence of polyoxoanions make it exhibit selective adsorption of water and proton‐conducting properties. Additionally it showed efficient intrinsic peroxidase‐like activity, providing a simple and sensitive colorimetric assay to detect H₂O₂.     

柔性金属—有机骨架材料中已烷的扩散研究

本工作将MM3力场进行了扩展,使其可用于描述其它IRMOF材料的柔韧性;在此基础上,我们采用分子动力学模拟研究了柔性IRMOF-1和-16材料中已烷的扩散。 本文重点研究了温度和分子数对己烷自扩散系数、扩散机理,以及骨架柔性的影响。结果表明,分子数是影响扩散路径的重要因素。其次,IRMOF-16的柔性强于IRMOF-1。 工作的结论有助于进一步研究链状分子在柔性MOF材料中的扩散。     

Microwave‐Assisted Modular Fabrication of Nanoscale Luminescent Metal‐Organic Framework for Molecular Sensing

Miniaturizing the size of metal‐organic framework (MOF) crystals to the nanometer scale is challenging, but it provides more advanced applications without changing the characteristic features itself. It is especially useful to investigate the correlation between the porous properties and the interfacial structures of nanocrystals. Using amino acids as capping agents, nanoscale Tb‐MOF‐76 is fabricated rapidly by means of microwave‐assisted methods. Both the modular effects of the amimo acids and the acid–base environment of the reaction medium have an important impact on the morphologies and dimensions of Tb‐MOF‐76. The structures of the samples are confirmed by powder X‐ray diffraction, and the morphologies are characterized by SEM. Photoluminescence studies reveal that these Tb‐MOF‐76 materials exhibit a green emission corresponding to the transition ⁵D₄→⁷F_J of Tb³⁺ ions under UV‐light excitation, which is sensitive to small organic molecules in solution.