Protecting group and switchable pore-discriminating adsorption properties of a hydrophilic–hydrophob
Author: ["M. Infas H. Mohideen","Bo Xiao","Paul S. Wheatley","Alistair C. McKinlay","Yang Li","Alexandra M. Z. Slawin","David W. Aldous","Naomi F. Cessford","Tina Düren","Xuebo Zhao","Rachel Gill","K. Mark Thomas","John M. Griffin","Sharon E. Ashbrook","Russell E. Morris"]
Publication: Nature Chemistry
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Abstract
Formed by linking metals or metal clusters through organic linkers, metal–organic frameworks are a class of solids with structural and chemical properties that mark them out as candidates for many emerging gas storage, separation, catalysis and biomedical applications. Important features of these materials include their high porosity and their flexibility in response to chemical or physical stimuli. Here, a copper-based metal–organic framework has been prepared in which the starting linker (benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid) undergoes selective monoesterification during synthesis to produce a solid with two different channel systems, lined by hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, respectively. The material reacts differently to gases or vapours of dissimilar chemistry, some stimulating subtle framework flexibility or showing kinetic adsorption effects. Adsorption can be switched between the two channels by judicious choice of the conditions. The monoesterified linker is recoverable in quantitative yield, demonstrating possible uses of metal–organic frameworks in molecular synthetic chemistry as ‘protecting groups’ to accomplish selective transformations that are difficult using standard chemistry techniques. Small modifications to the organic linkers in metal–organic framework materials (MOFs) can profoundly change their properties. Now, selective in situ esterification of a carboxylic-acid-based linker leads to a MOF with two types of channel having different surface chemistries. Adsorption into these channels is independent and can be switched using thermal or chemical triggers.
Cite this article
Mohideen, M., Xiao, B., Wheatley, P. et al. Protecting group and switchable pore-discriminating adsorption properties of a hydrophilic–hydrophobic metal–organic framework. Nature Chem 3, 304–310 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1003
