Developing Water-Stable Pore-Partitioned Metal-Organic Frameworks with Multi-Level Symmetry for High-Performance Sorption Applications.

A new perspective is proposed in the design of pore-space-partitioned MOFs that is focused on ligand symmetry properties sub-divided here into three hierarchical levels: 1) overall ligand, 2) ligand substructure such as backbone or core, and 3) the substituent groups. Different combinations of the above symmetry properties exist. Given the close correlation between nature of chemical moiety and its symmetry, such a unique perspective into ligand symmetry and sub-symmetry in MOF design translates into the influences on MOF properties. Five new MOFs have been prepared that exhibit excellent hydrothermal stability and high-performance adsorption properties with potential applications such as C3 H6 /C2 H4 and C2 H2 /CO2 selective adsorption. The combination of high stability with high benzene/cyclohexane selectivity of ≈13.7 is also of particular interest.