Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
04:51
Synthesis of Triazole and Tetrazole-Functionalized Zr-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks Through Post-Synthetic Ligand Exchange
Published on: June 23, 2023
Modulating metal-organic frameworks to breathe: a postsynthetic covalent modification approach
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|November 6, 2009
Summary
Chemical modification of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can activate breathing behavior for selective gas adsorption. This unprecedented control over MOF flexibility opens new avenues for material design.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials with tunable structures.
- MOF flexibility, or
- breathing
- , can be influenced by guest molecules.
- Controlling MOF flexibility is key to developing advanced materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate postsynthetic covalent modification of MOFs.
- To activate and control the breathing behavior of MOFs.
- To explore the potential for selective gas adsorption applications.
Main Methods:
- Postsynthetic covalent modification of a MOF.
- Gas adsorption experiments to observe breathing behavior.
- Analysis of MOF structural changes upon gas adsorption.
Main Results:
- Covalent modification successfully activated breathing behavior in the MOF.
- The modification allowed for unprecedented control over MOF flexibility.
- Breathing behavior was triggered by the adsorption of specific gases.
Conclusions:
- Postsynthetic modification is an effective strategy to control MOF flexibility.
- Tunable MOF breathing enables the design of materials for selective gas adsorption.
- This approach offers new possibilities for gas separation and storage technologies.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Properties of Organometallic Compounds
Organometallic compounds are compounds that contain a carbon–metal bond. Carbon belongs to an organyl group like alkyl, aryl, allyl, or benzyl groups. The metal can be from Group I or Group II of the periodic table, a transition metal, or a semimetal.
02:51Metal-Ligand Bonds
The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
02:04Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
02:04Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
01:19Oxidation and Reduction of Organic Molecules
Energy production within a cell involves many coordinated chemical pathways. Most of these pathways are combinations of oxidation and reduction reactions, which occur at the same time. An oxidation reaction strips an electron from an atom in a compound, and the addition of this electron to another compound is a reduction reaction. Because oxidation and reduction usually occur together, these pairs of reactions are called redox reactions.
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...
01:58Cooperative Allosteric Transitions
Cooperative allosteric transitions can occur in multimeric proteins, where each subunit of the protein has its own ligand-binding site. When a ligand binds to any of these subunits, it triggers a conformational change that affects the binding sites in the other subunits; this can change the affinity of the other sites for their respective ligands. The ability of the protein to change the shape of its binding site is attributed to the presence of a mix of flexible and stable segments in the...