Heterometallic Molecular Complexes Act as Messenger Building Units to Encode Desired Metal-Atom Combinations to Multivariate Metal–Organic Frameworks
Clara López‐García, Stefano Canossa, Joke Hadermann, Giulio Gorni, F. Palacio, Víctor A. de la Peña O’Shea, Marta Iglesias, Ángeles Monge, Enrique Gutiérrez‐Puebla, Felipe Gándara
Abstract
A novel synthetic approach is described for the targeted preparation of multivariate metal-organic frameworks (MTV-MOFs) with specific combinations of metal elements. This methodology is based on the use of molecular complexes that already comprise desired metal-atom combinations, as building units for the MTV-MOF synthesis. These units are transformed into the MOF structural constituents through a ligand/linker exchange process that involves structural modifications while preserving their originally encoded atomic combination. Thus, through the use of heterometallic ring-shaped molecules combining gallium and nickel or cobalt, we have obtained MOFs with identical combinations of the metal elements, now incorporated in the rod-shaped secondary building unit, as confirmed with a combination of X-ray and electron diffraction, electron microscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques.