title: Sequential linker installation: precise placement of functional groups in multivariate metal-organic frameworks.
abstract: A unique strategy, sequential linker installation (SLI), has been developed to construct multivariate MOFs with functional groups precisely positioned. PCN-700, a Zr-MOF with eight-connected Zr6O4(OH)8(H2O)4 clusters, has been judiciously designed; the Zr6 clusters in this MOF are arranged in such a fashion that, by replacement of terminal OH(-)/H2O ligands, subsequent insertion of linear dicarboxylate linkers is achieved. We demonstrate that linkers with distinct lengths and functionalities can be sequentially installed into PCN-700. Single-crystal to single-crystal transformation is realized so that the positions of the subsequently installed linkers are pinpointed via single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. This methodology provides a powerful tool to construct multivariate MOFs with precisely positioned functionalities in the desired proximity, which would otherwise be difficult to achieve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843, United States.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Weigang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Ying-Pin
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tian-Fu
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Junsheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Hong-Cai
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Zhou