Highly porous 4,8-connected metal-organic frameworks: synthesis, characterization, and hydrogen uptake

A series of highly porous 4,8-connected isoreticular MOFs of the scu topology [Cu(4)(L(1))(H(2)O)(4)]·20DEF, [Cu(4)(L(2))(H(2)O)(4)]·16DMF·5H(2)O, and [Cu(4)(L(3))(H(2)O)(4)]·14DMF (L(1)-L(3) are (R)-1,1'-binaphthyl-derived octacarboxylate bridging ligands) were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Although the frameworks exhibit some distortion during the solvent removal process, the high-connectivity nature of the building blocks helps in stabilizing the frameworks, leading to high surface areas (S(BET) = 1189-2448 m(2)/g) and significant hydrogen uptake of up to 1.8 wt % (77 K, 1 atm).