Structural Compromise Between Conflicted Spatial-Arrangements of Two Linkers in Metal-Organic Frameworks

The structural control of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is essential for the development of superlative MOFs because the structural features of MOFs and their components play a critical role in determining their properties, and ultimately, their applications. The best components to endow the desired properties for MOFs are available via the appropriate choice from many existing chemicals or synthesizing new ones. However, to date, considerably less information exists regarding fine-tuning the MOF structures. Herein, a strategy for tuning MOF structures by merging two MOF structures into a single MOF, is demonstrated. Depending on the incorporated amounts and relative contributions of the two coexisting organic linkers, benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate (BDC^2- ) and naphthalene-1,4-dicarboxylate (NDC^2- ), which have conflicting spatial-arrangement preferences within an MOF structure, MOFs are rationally designed to have a Kagomé or rhombic lattice. In particular, MOFs with rhombic lattices are constructed to have specific lattice angles by compromising the optimal structural arrangements between the two mixed linkers. The relative contributions of the two linkers during MOF construction determine the final MOF structures, and the competitive influence between BDC^2- and NDC^2- is effectively regulated to produce specific MOF structures with controlled lattices.