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Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Functionalized Metal-organic Frameworks
Published on: September 5, 2014
Exchange of Coordinated Solvent During Crystallization of a Metal-Organic Framework Observed by In Situ High-Energy
Yue Wu1, Matthew I Breeze2, Guy J Clarkson2
1Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK.
Abstract:
Using time-resolved monochromatic high energy X-ray diffraction, we present an in situ study of the solvothermal crystallisation of a new MOF [Yb2(BDC)3(DMF)2]⋅H2O (BDC=benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate and DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide) under solvothermal conditions, from mixed water/DMF solvent. Analysis of high resolution powder patterns obtained reveals an evolution of lattice parameters and electron density during the crystallisation process and Rietveld analysis shows that this is due to a gradual topochemical replacement of coordinated solvent molecules. The water initially coordinated to Yb(3+) is replaced by DMF as the reaction progresses.
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