Synthesis and structural characterization of the first neptunium based metal-organic frameworks incorporating {Np6O8} hexanuclear clusters.

Successful synthesis of the first transuranium metal-organic frameworks (TRU-MOFs) involving tetravalent Np4+ is reported. These compounds were obtained from the controlled hydrolysis of Np4+ in the presence of dicarboxylate ligands. The final structures contain the [Np6O4(OH)4(H2O)6]12+ unit, which were never crystallized before with tetravalent neptunium, associated with ditopic ligands.

Stability of metal-organic frameworks under gamma irradiation.

We report the study of the resistance of archetypal MOFs (MILs, HKUST-1, UiO-66, and ZIF-8) under gamma irradiation. The different porous solids were irradiated with doses up to 1.75 MGy. All the MOFs constructed with transition metals (Cu2+, Zn2+, Zr4+) exhibit an evident destruction of the framework, whereas the compounds constructed with aluminium remain intact.

Charge distribution in metal organic framework materials: transferability to a preliminary molecular simulation study of the CO(2) adsorption in the MIL-53 (Al) system.

Density functional theory calculations have been performed in order to extract the charge distribution in the aluminium-containing MIL-53 structure, to allow further computational studies of adsorption in these materials. Both cluster and periodic methods have been used and the charges calculated for each atom constituting the organic and inorganic part of the material, were discussed. Preliminary grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations, based on a consistent set of potential parameters and this newly derived charge distribution, predicted for enthalpies of adsorption for CO(2) at low coverage in the "large" and "narrow" pore versions of MIL-53 (Al) to be significantly different. These calculated enthalpies reproduced the two distinct ranges of values observed by microcalorimetry on either side of 6 bars quite well. This agreement between experiment and simulation validated our previous assumption, suggesting a structural switching of the hybrid material during the adsorption process. The microscopic mode of interaction between the hybrid porous framework and the CO(2) adsorption was then carefully analysed in both of the MIL-53 (Al) structures.

A microporous scandium terephthalate, Sc2(O2CC6H4CO2)3, with high thermal stability.

A scandium terephthalate with isolated ScO6 octahedra and fully-linked carboxylate groups is prepared hydrothermally and possesses a novel hybrid framework structure with high thermal stability and a pore volume for N2 adsorption of 0.26 cm(3) g(-1) at 77 K.

Chemistry-structure-simulation or chemistry-simulation-structure sequences? The case of MIL-34, a new porous aluminophosphate.

A new aluminophosphate, MIL-34, is investigated from its as-synthesized structure to its calcined microporous form. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements on the as-synthesized MIL-34 (Al(4)(PO(4))(4)OH x C(4)H(10)N, space group P-1, a = 8.701(3) A, b = 9.210(3) A, c = 12.385(3) A, alpha = 111.11(2) degrees, beta = 101.42(2) degrees, gamma = 102.08(2) degrees, V = 863.8(4) A(3), Z = 2, R = 3.8%) reveal a 3-D open framework where Al atoms are in both tetrahedral and trigonal bipyramidal coordinations. It contains a 2-D pore system defined by eight rings where channels along [100] cross channels running along [010] and [110]. CBuA molecules are trapped at their intersection. (27)Al, (31)P, and (1)H MAS NMR spectroscopies corroborate these structural features. Calcination treatments of a powder sample of the as-synthesized MIL-34 indicate its transformation into the related template-free structure that is stable up to 1000 degrees C. Lattice energy minimizations are then used in order to anticipate the crystal structure of the calcined MIL-34, starting with the knowledge of the as-synthesized structure exclusively. Energy minimizations predict a new regular zeotype structure (AlPO(4), space group P-1, a = 8.706 A, b = 8.749 A, c = 12.768 A, alpha = 111.17 degrees, beta = 97.70 degrees, gamma = 105.14 degrees, V = 846.75 A(3), Z = 2) together with a thermodynamic stability similar to that of existing zeotype AlPOs. Excellent agreement is observed between the diffraction pattern calculated from the predicted calcined MIL-34 and the experimental X-ray powder diffraction pattern of the calcined sample. Finally, the atomic coordinates and cell parameters of the calcined MIL-34 predicted from the simulations are used to perform the Rietveld refinement of the calcined sample powder pattern, further corroborated by (27)Al and (31)P NMR measurements. This unique combination of experiment and simulation approaches is an interesting and innovative strategy in materials sciences, where simulations articulate the prediction of a possible template-free framework from its as-synthesized templated form. This is especially valuable when straightforward characterizations of the solid of interest with conventional techniques are not easy to carry out.

Al(30): A Giant Aluminum Polycation.

Simple hydrothermal treatment of the well-known aluminum polycation varepsilon-Al(13) produces the novel Al(30) structure (see picture), the largest polycation yet observed. Its characterization, by X-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy, also solved previously unassigned signals in (27)Al NMR spectra of other Al - O species.

Open-Framework Inorganic Materials.

Aluminosilicate zeolites such as UTD-1 (structure shown) belong to a family of nanoporous inorganic materials that find utility in catalysis, separation, and ion exchange. During the last decade, the rate of discovery of new open-framework materials based, for example, on phosphates, sulfides, halides, nitrides, and coordination compounds has increased dramatically. The synthesis, structures, and properties of this remarkable class of materials are reviewed.

71Ga NMR of reference GaIV, GaV, and GaVI compounds by MAS and QPASS, extension of gallium/aluminum NMR parameter correlation.

We report new measurements of NMR parameters for 71Ga in gallium bearing oxide reference compounds, ranging from perfectly ordered systems to disordered crystalline structures and their aluminate counterparts. Static, MAS, and QPASS spectra are obtained at magnetic fields ranging from 7.0 to 18.8 T. With these results we enhance the previously established correlation between isotropic chemical shifts of 71Ga and 27Al and propose a correlation between gallium and aluminum electric field gradients (EFG). This correlation shows that the EFG at 71Ga sites are generally three times greater than those at equivalent 27Al sites.