(10,3)-a Noninterpenetrated network built from a Piedfort ligand pair

The Friedel-Crafts reaction of cyameluric chloride with toluene and subsequent oxidation have resulted in the synthesis of a benzoic acid functionalized tri-s-triazine derivative, s-heptazine tribenzoate (HTB). Photoluminescence and mass spectroscopy data indicate that, in solution, HTB molecules interact by face-to-face pi-pi stacking, forming dimers (the "Piedfort unit"). A porous metal-organic framework (MOF) with a (10,3)-a chiral network has been synthesized with these dimers at the three-connected nodes linking trinuclear zinc clusters. Within the network, the dimer can exist in either of two enantiomeric forms because of an angular offset in the stacking. The resulting MOF is neutral and noninterpenetrated and exhibits a high solvent-accessible volume (calculated 84%).