Columnar Mesomorphism in a Methylthio-Decorated Triindole for Enhanced Charge Transport.

We report a semiconducting triindole-based discotic liquid crystal (TRISMe) functionalized with six p-methylthiophenyl groups at its periphery. While initially a crystalline solid at room temperature, TRISMe transitions to a columnar hexagonal mesophase upon heating and retains this supramolecular organization upon subsequent cooling, despite having only three flexible alkyl chains attached to the core's nitrogens. The incorporation of methylthio groups effectively hinders tight molecular packing, stabilizing the columnar arrangement of this disk-shaped molecule. Single crystal analysis confirmed the high tendency of this compound to organize into a columnar architecture and the role played by the methylthio groups in reinforcing such structure. The mesomorphic behavior of TRISMe provides an opportunity for processing from its molten state. Notably, our research reveals significant differences in charge transport depending on the processing method, whether solution drop-casting or melt-based. TRISMe shows hole mobility values averaging 3 × 10-1 cm2 V-1 s-1 when incorporated in diode-type devices from the isotropic melt and annealed at the mesophase temperature, estimated by SCLC (space-charge-limited current) measurements. However, when integrated into solution-processed organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), crystalline TRISMe exhibits a hole mobility of 3 × 10-4 cm2 V-1 s-1. The observed differences can be attributed to a beneficial supramolecular assembly achieved in the mesophase in spite of its lower order. These results emphasize the material's potential for applications in easy-to-process electronic devices and highlight the potential of methylthio moieties in promoting columnar mesophases.

Magnetocaloric Properties in Rare-Earth-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks: Influence of Magnetic Density and Hydrostatic Pressure.

Magnetic refrigeration based on the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in metal-organic frameworks (MOF) is regarded as an attractive approach to create more sustainable cooling systems with higher efficiency than traditional ones. Here, we report a study of the MCE in a series of rare-earth-based MOFs. We have considered the selection of the rare-earth cation by investigating materials belonging to the α-rare-earth polymeric framework-4 (α-RPF-4) MOF family, synthesized with different rare-earth cations, and observed that paramagnetic moment and saturation magnetization play an important role in enhancing the magnetic entropy change ΔSM. The effect of structural parameters has also been considered by investigating three classes of metal-organic Gd materials built up from different types of inorganic secondary building units, including clusters (as in Gd-UiO-66), one-dimensional (as in α-RPF-4), and layered (as in Gd-LRH) conformations. Moreover, the analysis of the hydrostatic pressure influence reveals a significant increase in the -ΔSM and relative cooling power (RCP) with values between 4.3 and 16.3 and 121-509 J/kg. Specifically, the RCPmax found was ∼683 J/kg for Gd-UiO-66, which is higher than the one recently observed for Gd2SiO5 (649.5 J/kg). The present study demonstrates that the engineering of metal-organic framework systems based on high Gd densities may favor enhancing of magnetocaloric responses even at low pressures, thus promoting a new design strategy for efficient cooling devices.

Influence of the Synthesis and Crystallization Processes on the Cation Distribution in a Series of Multivariate Rare-Earth Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Magnetic Characterization.

The incorporation of multiple metal atoms in multivariate metal-organic frameworks is typically carried out through a one-pot synthesis procedure that involves the simultaneous reaction of the selected elements with the organic linkers. In order to attain control over the distribution of the elements and to be able to produce materials with controllable metal combinations, it is required to understand the synthetic and crystallization processes. In this work, we have completed a study with the RPF-4 MOF family, which is made of various rare-earth elements, to investigate and determine how the different initial combinations of metal cations result in different atomic distributions in the obtained materials. Thus, we have found that for equimolar combinations involving lanthanum and another rare-earth element, such as ytterbium, gadolinium, or dysprosium, a compositional segregation takes place in the products, resulting in crystals with different compositions. On the contrary, binary combinations of ytterbium, gadolinium, erbium, and dysprosium result in homogeneous distributions. This dissimilar behavior is ascribed to differences in the crystallization pathways through which the MOF is formed. Along with the synthetic and crystallization study and considering the structural features of this MOF family, we also disclose here a comprehensive characterization of the magnetic properties of the compounds and the heat capacity behavior under different external magnetic fields.

Building a Green, Robust, and Efficient Bi-MOF Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Strecker Reaction of Ketones.

In this work, we present the new [Bi14(µ3-O)9(µ4-O)2(µ3-OH)5(3,5-DSB)5(H2O)3]·7H2O, BiPF-4 (bismuth polymeric framework─4) MOF, its microwave hydrothermal synthesis, as well as its behavior as a heterogeneous catalyst in the multicomponent organic Strecker reaction. The BiPF-4 material shows a three-dimensional (3D) framework formed by peculiar inorganic oxo-hydroxo-bismutate layers connected among them through the 3,5-dsb (3,5-disulfobenzoic acid) linker. These two-dimensional (2D) layers, built by junctions of Bi7 polyhedra SBU, provide the material of many Lewis acid catalytic sites because of the mixing in the metal coordination number. BiPF-4 is a highly robust, green, and stable material that demonstrates an excellent heterogeneous catalytic activity in the multicomponent Strecker reaction of ketones carried out in one-pot synthesis, bringing a reliable platform of novel green materials based on nontoxic and abundant metal sources such as bismuth.

Study of the Addition Mechanism of 1H-Indazole and Its 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-Nitro Derivatives to Formaldehyde in Aqueous Hydrochloric Acid Solutions.

The reaction of NH-indazoles with formaldehyde in aqueous hydrochloric acid has been experimentally studied by solution and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and crystallography. The mechanism of the formation of N1-CH2OH derivatives was determined. For the first time, 2-substituted derivatives have been characterized by multinuclear NMR. Theoretically, calculations with gauge-invariant atomic orbitals (GIAOs) at the Becke three-parameter (exchange) Lee-Yang-Parr B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level have provided a sound basis for the experimental observations. The first X-ray structures of four (1H-indazol-1-yl)methanol derivatives are reported.

The Effect of Auxiliary Nitrogenated Linkers on the Design of New Cadmium-Based Coordination Polymers as Sensors for the Detection of Explosive Materials.

Three new cadmium-based coordination polymers, denoted [Cd(hfipbb)(4,4'-bipy)] (CdPF-1), [Cd(hfipbb)(2,2'-bipy)] (CdPF-2), and [Cd(hfipbb)(1,10-phen)] (CdPF-3), have been hydrothermally synthesized by using the well-known V-shaped organic linker 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)bis(benzoic acid) (H2 hfipbb), together with different nitrogenated auxiliary linkers. Considering the d10 configuration of the transition metal selected, the luminescent properties for these CdPF-n materials were explored, finding that materials CdPF-2 and CdPF-3 act as excellent sensors in the detection of explosive nitro aromatic compounds. The photoluminescence properties of CdPF-2 and CdPF-3 revealed that significant and sensitive fluorescence quenching was observed toward NP (nitrophenol) for CdPF-2 and PA (picric acid) for CdPF-3 in MeOH suspensions.

Untangling the Mechanochromic Properties of Benzothiadiazole-Based Luminescent Polymorphs through Supramolecular Organic Framework Topology.

Two new luminophore polymorphs of 4-bromo-7-(4-nonylphenyl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (1α and 1ß) exhibiting different color emissions, which switch into each other in response to shear force and solvent vapors, are presented and their X-ray structure is determined. Supramolecular organic framework topology (SOFT) studies on the two polymorphic structures led us to conclude that the mechanochromic phase transformation can be explained on the basis of modifications in their respective topological nets: mab and pcu for 1α and 1ß, respectively, as a result of the breaking and restoration of a number of weak supramolecular interactions. The color changes accompanying this transformation have been rationalized with the help of time-dependent density functional theory. We firmly believe that our findings will inspire future research on the design of novel stimuli-responsive organic materials with switchable properties based on their supramolecular interactions by establishing clear SOFT-property relationships.

Three-Dimensional Phthalocyanine Metal-Catecholates for High Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction.

The synthesis of a new anionic 3D metal-catecholate framework, termed MOF-1992, is achieved by linking tetratopic cobalt phthalocyanin-2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octaol linkers with Fe3(-C2O2-)6(OH2)2 trimers into an extended framework of roc topology. MOF-1992 exhibits sterically accessible Co active sites together with charge transfer properties. Cathodes based on MOF-1992 and carbon black (CB) display a high coverage of electroactive sites (270 nmol cm-2) and a high current density (-16.5 mA cm-2; overpotential, -0.52 V) for the CO2 to CO reduction reaction in water (faradaic efficiency, 80%). Over the 6 h experiment, MOF-1992/CB cathodes reach turnover numbers of 5800 with turnover frequencies of 0.20 s-1 per active site.

Anionic and neutral 2D indium metal-organic frameworks as catalysts for the Ugi one-pot multicomponent reaction.

Two metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) made of indium and 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (H3btb) and having a layered structure have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions: [In(btb)(H2O)(DMF)]·L (InPF-50) and [In2(btb)2Cl2]2-·[(CH3)2NH2]22+·L (InPF-51). The structures of both materials have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The synthetic study which has been carried out demonstrates the influence of the selected indium salt in obtaining each MOF. The structure of both materials consists of pairs of catenated layers, where the metal atoms display coordinated solvent ligands that provide potential open metal sites. The accessibility to these sites along with the presence of Lewis basic sites in the form of uncoordinated oxygen atoms make InPF-50 and -51 efficient catalysts for the four-component Ugi reaction. We attribute this high activity not only to the presence of both acid and basic sites, but also to their convenient locations in the MOF structures. This is further supported by the comparison with [In3O(btb)2(HCO2)]·L, InPF-110, a highly porous indium MOF that only displays Lewis acid sites, and shows lower activity.

Encoding Metal-Cation Arrangements in Metal-Organic Frameworks for Programming the Composition of Electrocatalytically Active Multimetal Oxides.

In the present contribution, we report how through the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) composed of addressable combinations of up to four different metal elements it is possible to program the composition of multimetal oxides, which are not attainable by other synthetic methodologies. Thus, due to the ability to distribute multiple metal cations at specific locations in the MOF secondary building units it is possible to code and transfer selected metal ratios to multimetal oxides with novel, desired compositions through a simple calcination process. The demonstration of an enhancement in the electrocatalytic activity of new oxides by preadjusting the metal ratios is here reported for the oxygen reduction reaction, for which activity values comparable to commercial Pt/C catalysts are reached, while showing long stability and methanol tolerance.

Efficient Rare-Earth-Based Coordination Polymers as Green Photocatalysts for the Synthesis of Imines at Room Temperature.

Five new rare-earth coordination polymers (CPs) were designed in order to offer a remarkable platform that contains light-harvesting antennas and catalytic active centers to achieve solar-energy conversion as green alternatives in the synthesis of imines. These five new spirobifluorene-containing Ln-CPs, named [Er3(Hsfdc)3(sfdc)3(H2O)]· xH2O (RPF-30-Er), [Ln(Hsfdc)(sfdc)(EtOH)]·S (RPF-31-Ln, where Ln = La, Nd, and Sm and S = H2O or EtOH), and [Ho(Hsfdc)(sfdc)(H2O)] (RPF-32-Ho) (RPF = rare-earth polymeric framework and H2sfdc = 9,9'-spirobi[9 H-fluorene]-2,2'-dicarboxylic acid), have been solvothermally synthesized, and their structural features can be described as follows: (i) RPF-30-Er shows a 3D framework in which the inorganic trimers (secondary building units) are cross-linked by Hsfdc- and sfdc2- linkers displaying a pcu topology. (ii) The isostructural RPF-31-Ln series of materials, together with RPF-32-Ho, exhibit a 1D network of chains growing along the a axis with a ribbon-of-rings topology type. The photocatalytic activity of the RPF- n materials was tested in the oxidative coupling of amines using molecular oxygen and air as oxidizing agents under warm light. Among the materials investigated, RPF-31-Nd was chosen to further investigate the approach in the selectivity of different amine derivates.

New Metal-Organic Frameworks for Chemical Fixation of CO2.

A novel series of two zirconium- and one indium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), namely, MOF-892, MOF-893, and MOF-894, constructed from the hexatopic linker, 1',2',3',4',5',6'-hexakis(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene, were synthesized and fully characterized. MOF-892 and MOF-893 are two new exemplars of materials with topologies previously unseen in the important family of zirconium MOFs. MOF-892, MOF-893, and MOF-894 exhibit efficient heterogeneous catalytic activity for the cycloaddition of CO2, resulting in a cyclic organic carbonate formation with high conversion, selectivity, and yield under mild conditions (1 atm CO2, 80 °C, and solvent-free). Because of the structural features provided by their building units, MOF-892 and MOF-893 are replete with accessible Lewis and Brønsted acid sites located at the metal clusters and the non-coordinating carboxylic groups of the linkers, respectively, which is found to promote the catalytic CO2 cycloaddition reaction. As a proof-of-concept, MOF-892 exhibits high catalytic activity in the one-pot synthesis of styrene carbonate from styrene and CO2 without preliminary synthesis and isolation of styrene oxide.

Principles of Designing Extra-Large Pore Openings and Cages in Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks.

We report three design principles for obtaining extra-large pore openings and cages in the metal-organic analogues of inorganic zeolites, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs). Accordingly, we prepared a series of 15 ZIFs, members of which have the largest pore opening (22.5 Å) and the largest cage size (45.8 Å) known for all porous tetrahedral structures. The key parameter allowing us to access these exceptional ZIFs is what we define as the steric index (δ), which is related to the size and shape of the imidazolate linkers employed in the synthesis. The three principles are based on using multiple linkers with specific range and ratios of δ to control the size of rings and cages from small to large, and therefore are universally applicable to all existing ZIFs. The ZIF with the largest cage size (ZIF-412) shows the best selectivity of porous materials tested toward removal of octane and p-xylene from humid air.

A Mesoporous Indium Metal-Organic Framework: Remarkable Advances in Catalytic Activity for Strecker Reaction of Ketones.

With the aim of developing new highly porous, heterogeneous Lewis acid catalysts for multicomponent reactions, a new mesoporous metal-organic framework, InPF-110 ([In3O(btb)2(HCOO)(L)], (H3btb = 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene acid, L = methanol, water, or ethanol), has been prepared with indium as the metal center. It exhibits a Langmuir surface area of 1470 m(2) g(-1), and its structure consists of hexagonal pores with a 2.8 nm aperture, which allows the diffusion of multiple substrates. This material presents a large density of active metal sites resulting in outstanding catalytic activity in the formation of substituted α-aminonitriles through the one-pot Strecker reaction of ketones. In this respect, InPF-110 stands out compared to other catalysts for this reaction due to the small catalyst loadings required, and without the need for heat or solvents. Furthermore, X-ray single crystal diffraction studies clearly show the framework-substrate interaction through coordination to the accessible indium sites.

Synchronizing Substrate Activation Rates in Multicomponent Reactions with Metal-Organic Framework Catalysts.

A study on the influence of the cation coordination number, number of Lewis acid centers, concurrent existence of Lewis base sites, and structure topology on the catalytic activity of six new indium MOFs, has been carried out for multicomponent reactions (MCRs). The new indium polymeric frameworks, namely [In8 (OH)6 (popha)6 (H2 O)4 ]⋅3 H2 O (InPF-16), [In(popha)(2,2'-bipy)]⋅3 H2 O (InPF-17), [In3 (OH)3 (popha)2 (4,4'-bipy)]⋅4 H2 O (InPF-18), [In2 (popha)2 (4,4'-bipy)2 ]⋅3 H2 O (InPF-19), [In(OH)(Hpopha)]⋅0.5 (1,7-phen) (InPF-20), and [In(popha)(1,10-phen)]⋅4 H2 O (InPF-21) (InPF=indium polymeric framework, H3 popha=5-(4-carboxy-2-nitrophenoxy)isophthalic acid, phen=phenanthroline, bipy=bipyridine), have been hydrothermally obtained by using both conventional heating (CH) and microwave (MW) procedures. These indium frameworks show efficient Lewis acid behavior for the solvent-free cyanosilylation of carbonyl compounds, the one pot Passerini 3-component (P-3CR) and the Ugi 4-component (U-4CR) reactions. In addition, InPF-17 was found to be a highly reactive, recyclable, and environmentally benign catalyst, which allows the efficient synthesis of α-aminoacyl amides. The relationship between the Lewis base/acid active site and the catalytic performance is explained by the 2D seven-coordinated indium framework of the catalyst InPF-17. This study is an attempt to highlight the main structural and synthetic factors that have to be taken into account when planning a new, effective MOF-based heterogeneous catalyst for multicomponent reactions.

Tunable catalytic activity of solid solution metal-organic frameworks in one-pot multicomponent reactions.

The aim of this research is to establish how metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) composed of more than one metal in equivalent crystallographic sites (solid solution MOFs) exhibit catalytic activity, which is tunable by virtue of the metal ions ratio. New MOFs with general formula [InxGa1-x(O2C2H4)0.5(hfipbb)] were prepared by the combination of Ga and In. They are isostructural with their monometal counterparts, synthesized with Al, Ga, and In. Differences in their behavior as heterogeneous catalysts in the three-component, one pot Strecker reaction illustrate the potential of solid solution MOFs to provide the ability to address the various stages involved in the reaction mechanism.

H3O2 bridging ligand in a metal-organic framework. Insight into the aqua-hydroxo↔hydroxyl equilibrium: a combined experimental and theoretical study.

A metal-organic framework (MOF) bearing the aqua-hydroxo species (O2H3)(-) in the framework, as well as the processes that govern the equilibrium aqua-hydroxo (O2H3)(-)↔hydroxyl (OH) in Sc-MOFs, are studied experimentally and theoretically. Computational studies were employed to determine the relative energies for the two compounds that coexist under certain hydrothermal conditions at pH < 2.8. The thermodynamically more stable [Sc3(3,5-DSB)2(µ-O2H3)(µ-OH)2(H2O)2] (from now on, (O2H3)Sc-MOF; 3,5-DSB = 3,5-disulfobenzoic acid) was obtained as a pure and stable phase. It was impossible to isolate [Sc3(3,5-DSB)2(µ-OH)3(H2O)4] as a pure phase, as it turned out to be the precursor of (O2H3)Sc-MOF. Additionally, a third compound that appears at pH between 3.5 and 4, [Sc3(3,5-DSB)(µ-OH)6(H2O)] and a fourth, [Sc(3,5-DSB)(Phen)(H2O)](H2O), in whose formula neither OH groups nor H3O2(-) anions appear, are reported for comparative purposes. A study of the (O2H3)Sc-MOF electronic structure, and some heterogeneous catalytic tests in cyanosilylation of aldehydes reactions, are also reported.

Lanthanide metal-organic frameworks: searching for efficient solvent-free catalysts.

Three Ln-based 2D metal-organic frameworks with the formula [Ln(3,5-DSB)(Phen)] (Ln = La, Pr, Nd; 3,5-DSB = 3,5-disulfobenzoate; Phen = 1,10-phenathroline) were hydrothermally synthesized. They belong to two 2D structural types, and their nets own different topologies. The isostructural La and Pr compounds possess a uninodal 5-connected SP 2-periodic net (6,3). The Nd compound has a binodal 3- and 6-connected kgd net. The novel compounds exhibit excellent catalytic activities toward the cyanosilylation reaction under solvent-free conditions.

Structure-directing and template roles of aromatic molecules in the self-assembly formation process of 3D holmium-succinate MOFs.

Two new holmium-succinate frameworks have been synthesized by hydrolysis in situ of the succinylsalicylic acid under different hydrothermal conditions. Compound 1, [Ho(2)(C(4)H(4)O(4))(3)(H(2)O)(2)]·0.33(C(7)H(6)O(3)), P ̅i space group, has a novel structure composed by 1D-SBUs consisting of [HoO(9)] chains of polyhedra linked by the succinate ligands giving a 3D framework. Compound 2, [Ho(2)(C(4)H(4)O(4))(3)(H(2)O)(2)], also belonging to the P ̅i space group, has a denser structure. The role of the in-situ-generated salicylic acid on formation of both structures is studied by means of a synthesis design methodology. A topological study of the new holmium succinate compounds in comparison with the previously reported 3D holmium-succinate framework is performed here.

Thermodynamic and kinetic control on the formation of two novel metal-organic frameworks based on the Er(III) ion and the asymmetric dimethylsuccinate ligand.

Two new layered polymeric frameworks have been synthesized under different hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and variable temperature-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (VT-FTIR). The compound I, with formula [Er(2)(dms)(3)(H(2)O)(4)], has a triclinic cell with parameters a = 5.8506 A, b = 9.8019 A, c = 11.9747 A, alpha = 70.145 degrees , beta = 80.234 degrees , and gamma = 89.715 degrees , and the compound II, [Er(2)(dms)(3)(H(2)O)], is monoclinic and its cell parameters are a = 11.1794 A, b = 18.2208 A, c = 12.7944 A, beta = 112.4270 degrees , where dms = 2,2-dimethylsuccinate ligand. A theoretical study including energy calculations of the dms conformers was carried out at the Density Functional Theory (DFT-B3LYP) level of theory, using the 6-311G* basis set. Further calculations of the apparent formation energies of I and II crystalline structures were performed by means of the periodic density functional theory, using DF plane-waves. The analysis of the structural features, theoretical relative stabilities, and the influence of synthesis conditions are presented here. The heterogeneous catalytic activity of the new compounds is tested and reported.