Single-walled metal-organic nanotube built from a simple synthon

A conformationally flexible triazole-carboxylic acid ligand derived from an L-amino acid, namely, 4 H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl-acetic acid (αHGlytrz), has been exploited to synthesize a structurally diverse and functionally intriguing metal-organic framework with CuSiF6. The crystal structure reveals a novel single-walled metal-organic nanotube (SWMONT), namely, {[Cu3(μ3-OH)(H2O)3(Glytrz)3]⋅SiF6⋅8 H2O⋅X}∞ (1), (where X = disordered lattice water molecules) having a pore size as large as zeolites. Compound 1 was synthesized as crystals, as powder, or as layers by precipitation/electrodeposition. Mercury intrusion porosimetry demonstrates the ability of this material to store metallic mercury, after a pressure treatment, contrary to previous literature examples.