Synthesis of Triazole and Tetrazole-Functionalized Zr-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks Through Post-Synthetic Ligand Exchange

Summary

Post-synthetic ligand exchange (PSE) is a versatile and powerful tool for installing functional groups into metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Exposing MOFs to solutions containing triazole- and tetrazole-functionalized ligands can incorporate these heterocyclic moieties into Zr-MOFs through PSE processes.

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous materials that are formed through coordination bonds between metal clusters and organic ligands. Given their coordinative nature, the organic ligands and strut framework can be readily removed from the MOF and/or exchanged with other coordinative molecules. By introducing target ligands to MOF-containing solutions, functionalized MOFs can be obtained with new chemical tags via a process called post-synthetic ligand exchange (PSE). PSE is a straightforward and practical approach that enables the preparation of a wide range of MOFs with new chemical tags via a solid-solution equilibrium process. Furthermore, PSE can be performed at room temperature, allowing the incorporation of thermally unstable ligands into MOFs. In this work, we demonstrate the practicality of PSE by using heterocyclic triazole- and tetrazole-containing ligands to functionalize a Zr-based MOF (UiO-66; UiO = University of Oslo). After digestion, the functionalized MOFs are characterized via various techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Introduction

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are three-dimensional porous materials that are formed through coordination bonds between metal clusters and multi-topic organic ligands. MOFs have garnered significant attention due to their permanent porosity, low density, and ability to associate organic and inorganic components, which enables diverse applications^1,2. Moreover, the vast range of metal nodes and strut organic linkers offer MOFs theoretically unlimited structural combinations. Even with identical framework structures, MOFs' physical and chemical properties can be modified through ligand functionalization with c....

Protocol

The reagents required to prepare MOFs and the ligands are listed in the Table of Materials.

1. Setting up the post-synthetic ligand exchange (PSE) process

1. Completely dry the pre-synthesized UiO-66 MOFs under vacuum to remove any unreacted metal-salts and ligands in the pores, and remaining solvent residues overnight.
   NOTE: See Supplementary File 1 for the synthesis procedure of UiO-66 MOFs.
2. Prepare functionalized ligands, H₂BDC-Triazole, and H₂BDC-Tetrazole (see Supplementary File 1 for the preparation process; Supp....

Results

The successful synthesis of exchanged UiO-66 MOFs, UiO-66-Triazole, and UiO-66-Tetrazole produced colorless microcrystalline solids. Both H₂BDC-Triazole and H₂BDC-Tetrazole ligands also exhibited a colorless solid state. The standard method used to determine the success of the exchange involved measuring the PXRD patterns and comparing the crystallinity of the sample with pristine UiO-66 MOF. Figure 2 displays the PXRD patterns of exchanged UiO-66-Triazole and UiO-66-Te.......

Discussion

The PSE process with functionalized BDC ligands toward Zr-based UiO-66 MOFs is a simple and versatile method to obtain MOFs with chemical tags. The PSE process is best conducted in aqueous media, requiring the initial step of solvating the ligand in an aqueous medium. When using pre-synthesized BDC with functional groups, direct dissolution in a basic solvent, such as a 4% KOH aqueous solution, is recommended. Alternatively, sodium or potassium salt of benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate may be used. Neutralization to pH 7 is crit.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
2-Bromoterephthalic acid	BLD Pharm	BD5695	reagent for BDC-Triazole
Azidotrimethylsilane	Simga Aldrich	155071	reagent for BDC-Triazole
Bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) dichloride	TCI	B1667	reagent for BDC-Triazole
Copper(I) cyanide	Alfa-Aesar	12135	reagent for BDC-Tetrazole
Copper(I) iodide	Acros organics	20150	reagent for BDC-Triazole
Digital Orbital Shaker	Daihan Scientific	SHO-1D	PSE
Formic Acid	Daejung chemical	F0195	reagent for BDC-Tetrazole
Hybrid LC/Q-TOF system	Bruker BioSciences	maXis 4G	HR-MS
Lithum hydroxide monohydrate	Daejung chemical	5087-4405	reagent for BDC-Triazole
Magnesium sulfate	Samchun chemical	M1807	reagent for BDC-Triazole
Methyl alcohol	Daejung chemical	M0584	reagent for BDC-Tetrazole
N,N-Dimethylformamide	Daejung chemical	D0552	reagent for BDC-Tetrazole
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer-500 MHz	Bruker	AVANCE 500MHz	NMR
Polypropylene cap (22 mm, Cork-Backed Foil Lined)	Sungho Korea	22-200	material for digestion
Potassium cyanide	Alfa-Aesar	L13273	reagent for BDC-Tetrazole
PVDF Synringe filter (13 mm, 0.45 µm)	LK Lab Korea	F14-61-363	material for digestion
Scintillation vial (20 mL, borosilicate glass)	Sungho Korea	74504-20	material for digestion
Sodium azide	TCI	S0489	reagent for BDC-Tetrazole
Sodium bicarbonate	Samchun chemical	S0343	reagent for BDC-Triazole
Tetrabutylammonium fluoride (1 M THF solution)	Acros organics	20195	reagent for BDC-Triazole
Triethylamine	TCI	T0424	reagent for BDC-Triazole
Triethylamine hydrochloride	Daejung chemical	8628-4405	reagent for BDC-Tetrazole
Trimethylsilyl-acetylene	Alfa-Aesar	A12856	reagent for BDC-Triazole
Triphenylphosphine	TCI	T0519	reagent for BDC-Triazole
X RAY DIFFRACTOMETER SYSTEM	Rigaku	MiniFlex 600	PXRD
Zirconium(IV) chloride	Alfa-Aesar	12104	reagent for BDC-Tetrazole