Selective cycloaddition of ethylene oxide to CO2 within the confined space of an amino acid-based metal-organic framework.

Host-guest chemistry within the confined space of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offers an almost unlimited myriad of possibilities, hardly accessible with other materials. Here we report the synthesis and physical characterization, with atomic resolution by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, of a novel water-stable tridimensional MOF, derived from the amino acid S-methyl-L-cysteine, {SrZn6[(S,S)-Mecysmox]3(OH)2(H2O)}·9H2O (1), and its application as a robust and efficient solid catalyst for the cycloaddition reaction of ethylene/propylene oxide with CO2 to afford ethylene/propylene carbonate with yields of up to 95% and selectivity of up to 100%. These results nicely illustrate the great potential of MOFs to be game changers for the selective synthesis of industrially relevant products, representing a powerful alternative to the current heterogeneous catalysts.

Degradation of Penicillinic Antibiotics and ß-Lactamase Enzymatic Catalysis in a Biomimetic Zn-Based Metal-Organic Framework.

Invited for the cover of this issue are Jesús Ferrando-Soria, Donatella Armentano, Antonio Leyva-Pérez, Emilio Pardo and co-workers at University of Valencia, Technical University of Valencia and University of Calabria. The image depicts the crystal structure of a novel ZnII biological metal-organic framework that mimics ß-lactamase enzymes. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202301325.

Degradation of Penicillinic Antibiotics and ß-Lactamase Enzymatic Catalysis in a Biomimetic Zn-Based Metal-Organic Framework.

ß-Lactam antibiotics are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs to treat bacterial infections. However, their use has been somehow limited given the emergence of bacteria with resistance mechanisms, such as ß-lactamases, which inactivate them by degrading their four-membered ß-lactam rings. So, a total knowledge of the mechanisms governing the catalytic activity of ß-lactamases is required. Here, we report a novel Zn-based metal-organic framework (MOF, 1), possessing functional channels capable to accommodate and interact with antibiotics, which catalyze the selective hydrolysis of the penicillinic antibiotics amoxicillin and ceftriaxone. In particular, MOF 1 degrades, very efficiently, the four-membered ß-lactam ring of amoxicillin, acting as a ß-lactamase mimic, and expands the very limited number of MOFs capable to mimic catalytic enzymatic processes. Combined single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) studies and density functional (DFT) calculations offer unique snapshots on the host-guest interactions established between amoxicillin and the functional channels of 1. This allows to propose a degradation mechanism based on the activation of a water molecule, promoted by a Zn-bridging hydroxyl group, concertedly to the nucleophilic attack to the carbonyl moiety and the cleaving of C-N bond of the lactam ring.

Ag2(0) dimers within a thioether-functionalized MOF catalyze the CO2 to CH4 hydrogenation reaction.

Ultrasmall silver clusters in reduced state are difficult to synthesize since silver atoms tend to rapidly aggregate into bigger entities. Here, we show that dimers of reduced silver (Ag2) are formed within the framework of a metal-organic framework provided with thioether arms in their walls (methioMOF), after reduction with NaBH4 of the corresponding Ag+-methioMOF precursor. The resulting Ag2-methioMOF catalyzes the methanation reaction of carbon dioxide (CO2 to CH4 hydrogenation reaction) under mild reaction conditions (1 atm CO2, 4 atm H2, 140 °C), with production rates much higher than Ag on alumina and even comparable to the state-of-the-art Ru on alumina catalyst (Ru-Al2O3) under these reaction conditions, according to literature results.

Exploring the Role of Amino Acid-Derived Multivariate Metal-Organic Frameworks as Catalysts in Hemiketalization Reactions.

Understanding the host-guest chemistry in MOFs represents a research field with outstanding potential to develop in a rational manner novel porous materials with improved performances in fields such as heterogeneous catalysis. Herein, we report a family of three isoreticular MOFs derived from amino acids and study the influence of the number and nature of functional groups decorating the channels as a catalyst in hemiketalization reactions. In particular, a multivariate (MTV) MOF 3, prepared by using equal percentages of amino acids L-serine and L-mecysteine, in comparison to single-component ("traditional") MOFs, derived from either L-serine or L-mecysteine (MOFs 1 and 2), exhibits the most efficient catalytic conversions for the hemiketalization of different aldehydes and ketalization of cyclohexanone. On the basis of the experimental data reported, the good catalytic performance of MTV-MOF 3 is attributed to the intrinsic heterogeneity of MTV-MOFs. These results highlight the potential of MTV-MOFs as strong candidates to mimic natural nonacidic enzymes, such as glycosidases, and to unveil novel catalytic mechanisms not so easily accessible with other microporous materials.

MOF-Triggered Synthesis of Subnanometer Ag02 Clusters and Fe3+ Single Atoms: Heterogenization Led to Efficient and Synergetic One-Pot Catalytic Reactions.

The combination of well-defined Fe3+ isolated single-metal atoms and Ag2 subnanometer metal clusters within the channels of a metal-organic framework (MOF) is reported and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction for the first time. The resulting hybrid material, with the formula [Ag02(Ag0)1.34FeIII0.66]@NaI2{NiII4[CuII2(Me3mpba)2]3}·63H2O (Fe3+Ag02@MOF), is capable of catalyzing the unprecedented direct conversion of styrene to phenylacetylene in one pot. In particular, Fe3+Ag02@MOF─which can easily be obtained in a gram scale─exhibits superior catalytic activity for the TEMPO-free oxidative cross-coupling of styrenes with phenyl sulfone to give vinyl sulfones in yields up to >99%, which are ultimately transformed, in situ, to the corresponding phenylacetylene product. The results presented here constitute a paradigmatic example of how the synthesis of different metal species in well-defined solid catalysts, combined with speciation of the true metal catalyst of an organic reaction in solution, allows the design of a new challenging reaction.

Metal-organic frameworks as chemical nanoreactors for the preparation of catalytically active metal compounds.

Since the emergence of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a myriad of thrilling properties and applications, in a wide range of fields, have been reported for these materials, which mainly arise from their porous nature and rich host-guest chemistry. However, other important features of MOFs that offer great potential rewards have been only barely explored. For instance, despite the fact that MOFs are suitable candidates to be used as chemical nanoreactors for the preparation, stabilization and characterization of unique functional species, that would be hardly accessible outside the functional constrained space offered by MOF channels, only very few examples have been reported so far. In particular, we outline in this feature recent advances in the use of highly robust and crystalline oxamato- and oxamidato-based MOFs as reactors for the in situ preparation of well-defined catalytically active single atom catalysts (SACS), subnanometer metal nanoclusters (SNMCs) and supramolecular coordination complexes (SCCs). The robustness of selected MOFs permits the post-synthetic (PS) in situ preparation of the desired catalytically active metal species, which can be characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) taking advantage of its high crystallinity. The strategy highlighted here permits the always challenging large-scale preparation of stable and well-defined SACs, SNMCs and SCCs, exhibiting outstanding catalytic activities.

(Multivariate)-Metal-Organic Framework for Highly Efficient Antibiotic Capture from Aquatic Environmental Matrices.

Contamination of aquatic environments by pharmaceuticals used by modern societies has become a serious threat to human beings. Among them, antibiotics are of particular concern due to the risk of creating drug-resistant bacteria and, thus, developing efficient protocols for the capture of this particular type of drug is mandatory. Herein, we report a family of three isoreticular MOFs, derived from natural amino acids, that exhibit high efficiency in the removal of a mixture of four distinct families of antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones, penicillins, lincomycins, and cephalosporins, as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents. In particular, a multivariate (MTV)-MOF, prepared using equal percentages of amino acids l-serine and l-methionine, also exhibits outstanding recyclability, surpassing the benchmark material activated carbon. The good removal performance of the MTV-MOF was rationalized by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These results highlight the situation of MOFs as a real and promising alternative for the capture of antibiotics from environmental matrices, especially wastewater streams.

Highly Efficient MOF-Driven Silver Subnanometer Clusters for the Catalytic Buchner Ring Expansion Reaction.

The preparation of novel efficient catalysts─that could be applicable in industrially important chemical processes─has attracted great interest. Small subnanometer metal clusters can exhibit outstanding catalytic capabilities, and thus, research efforts have been devoted, recently, to synthesize novel catalysts bearing such active sites. Here, we report the gram-scale preparation of Ag20 subnanometer clusters within the channels of a highly crystalline three-dimensional anionic metal-organic framework, with the formula [Ag20]@AgI2NaI2{NiII4[CuII2(Me3mpba)2]3}·48H2O [Me3mpba4- = N,N'-2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3-phenylenebis(oxamate)]. The resulting crystalline solid catalyst─fully characterized with the help of single-crystal X-ray diffraction─exhibits high catalytic activity for the catalytic Buchner ring expansion reaction.

Multivariate Metal-Organic Framework/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Buckypaper for Selective Lead Decontamination.

The search for efficient technologies empowering the selective capture of environmentally harmful heavy metals from wastewater treatment plants, at affordable prices, attracts wide interest but constitutes an important technological challenge. We report here an eco-friendly single-walled carbon nanotube buckypaper (SWCNT-BP) enriched with a multivariate amino acid-based metal-organic framework (MTV-MOF) for the efficient and selective removal of Pb2+ in multicomponent water systems. Pristine MTV-MOF was easily immobilized within the porous network of entangled SWCNTs, thus obtaining a stable self-standing adsorbing membrane filter (MTV-MOF/SWCNT-BP). SWCNT-BP alone shows a moderately good removal performance with a maximum adsorption capacity of 180 mg·g-1 and a considerable selectivity for Pb(II) ions in highly concentrated multi-ion solutions over a wide range of lead concentration (from 200 to 10000 ppb). Remarkably, these features were outperformed with the hybrid membrane filter MTV-MOF/SWCNT-BP, exhibiting enhanced selectivity and adsorption capacity (310 mg·g-1, which is up to 42% higher than that of the neat SWCNT-BP) and consequently enabling a more efficient and selective removal of Pb2+ from aqueous media. MTV-MOF/SWCNT-BP was able to reduce [Pb2+] from the dangerous 1000 ppb level to acceptable limits for drinking water, below 10 ppb, as established by the current EPA and WHO limits. Thus, the eco-friendly composite MTV-MOF/SWCNT-BP shows the potential to be effectively used several times as a reliable adsorbent for Pb2+ removal for household drinking water or in industrial treatment plants for water and wastewater lead decontamination.

Slow magnetic relaxation in a trigonal-planar mononuclear Fe(II) complex.

Based on a ß-diketiminate ligand, an iron(III) tetrahedral high-spin complex, [LFeIII(Cl)2] (1), and an iron(II) high-spin triangular planar complex, [LFeIICl] (2), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Also, complex 1 can be considered as a precursor to produce 2via a reduction process, with a concomitant change in its magnetic anisotropy. Combined experiments and ab initio calculations support the observation of field-induced single-ion magnet (SIM) behaviour for 2 with an effective spin-reversal energy barrier of Ueff = 40.02 K, as a direct consequence of the large intrinsic magnetic anisotropy (easy axis) arising from out-of-state spin-orbit coupling in the trigonal planar FeII complex. Noteworthy butterfly hysteresis loops were observed from 2 up to 8 K, which represents the first case in Fe(II) complexes.

Epoxidation vs. dehydrogenation of allylic alcohols: heterogenization of the VO(acac)2 catalyst in a metal-organic framework.

Allylic alcohol epoxidation and dehydrogenation reactivity is distinguished when VO(acac)2 is used in solution or anchored in a metal-organic framework (MOF). The chemical mechanism depends on the electronic profile of alkene substituents when the vanadyl complex is used in the homogenous phase. However, confinement effects imparted by MOF channels allow gaining control of the chemoselectivity toward the dehydrogenation product.

Metal-Organic Frameworks as Unique Platforms to Gain Insight of σ-Hole Interactions for the Removal of Organic Dyes from Aquatic Ecosystems.

The combination of high crystallinity and rich host-guest chemistry in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), have situated them in an advantageous position, with respect to traditional porous materials, to gain insight on specific weak noncovalent supramolecular interactions. In particular, sulfur σ-hole interactions are known to play a key role in the biological activity of living beings as well as on relevant molecular recognitions processes. However, so far, they have been barely explored. Here, we describe both how the combination of the intrinsic features of MOFs, especially the possibility of using single-crystal X-ray crystallography (SCXRD), can be an extremely valuable tool to gain insight on sulfur σ-hole interactions, and how their rational exploitation can be enormously useful in the efficient removal of harmful organic molecules from aquatic ecosystems. Thus, we have used a MOF, prepared from the amino acid L-methionine and possessing channels decorated with -CH2 CH2 SCH3 thioalkyl chains, to remove a family of organic dyes at very low concentrations (10 ppm) from water. This MOF is able to efficiently capture the four dyes in a very fast manner, reaching within five minutes nearly the maximum removal. Remarkably, the crystal structure of the different organic dyes within MOFs channels could be determined by SCXRD. This has enabled us to directly visualize the important role sulfur σ-hole interactions play on the removal of organic dyes from aqueous solutions, representing one of the first studies on the rational exploitation of σ-hole interactions for water remediation.

Enhanced Sieving of C2-Hydrocarbon from Methane by Fluoro-Functionalization of In-MOF with Robust Stability.

Developing efficient adsorbent materials is crucial for adsorption and separation to realize the purification of energy source and raw chemicals. Here, we report a novel and robust 3D In-based MOF built up with fluorine-functionalized ligands, QMOF-2F, with improved separation properties of C2-light hydrocarbons over methane at room temperature respect isoreticular non-fluorinated MOF. QMOF-2F shows a remarkable chemical stability in different solvents, including water, and pH (2-12). DFT calculations support the key role of fluorine-functionalization on the improved performance of QMOF-2F.

MOF-Stabilized Perfluorinated Palladium Cages Catalyze the Additive-Free Aerobic Oxidation of Aliphatic Alcohols to Acids.

Extremely high electrophilic metal complexes, composed by a metal cation and very electron poor σ-donor ancillary ligands, are expected to be privileged catalysts for oxidation reactions in organic chemistry. However, their low lifetime prevents any use in catalysis. Here we show the synthesis of fluorinated pyridine-Pd2+ coordinate cages within the channels of an anionic tridimensional metal-organic framework (MOF), and their use as efficient metal catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of aliphatic alcohols to carboxylic acids without any additive. Mechanistic studies strongly support that the MOF-stabilized coordination cage with perfluorinated ligands unleashes the full electrophilic potential of Pd2+ to dehydrogenate primary alcohols, without any base, and also to activate O2 for the radical oxidation to the aldehyde intermediate. This study opens the door to design catalytic perfluorinated complexes for challenging organic transformations, where an extremely high electrophilic metal site is required.

A Biocompatible Aspartic-Decorated Metal-Organic Framework with Tubular Motif Degradable under Physiological Conditions.

Achieving a precise control of the final structure of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is necessary to obtain desired physical properties. Here, we describe how the use of a metalloligand design strategy and a judicious choice of ligands inspired from nature is a versatile approach to succeed in this challenging task. We report a new porous chiral MOF, with the formula Ca5II{CuII10[(S,S)-aspartamox]5}·160H2O (1), constructed from Cu2+ and Ca2+ ions and aspartic acid-decorated ligands, where biometal Cu2+ ions are bridged by the carboxylate groups of aspartic acid moieties. The structure of MOF 1 reveals an infinite network of basket-like cages, built by 10 crystallographically distinct Cu(II) metal ions and five aspartamox ligands acting as bricks of a tubular motif, composed of seven basket-like cages each. The pillared hepta-packed cages generate pseudo-rhombohedral nanosized channels of ca. 0.7 and 0.4 nm along the b and a crystallographic axes. This intricate porous 3D network is anionic and chiral, each cage displaying receptor properties toward three-nuclear [Ca3(µ-H2O)4(H2O)17]6+ entities. 1 represents the first example of an extended porous structure based on essential biometals Cu2+ and Ca2+ ions together with aspartic acid as amino acid. 1 shows good biocompatibility, making it a good candidate to be used as a drug carrier, and hydrolyzes in acid water. The hypothesis has been further supported by an adsorption experiment here reported, as a proof-of-principle study, using dopamine hydrochloride as a model drug to follow the encapsulation process. Results validate the potential ability of 1 to act as a drug carrier. Thus, these make this MOF one of the few examples of biocompatible and degradable porous solid carriers for eventual release of drugs in the stomach stimulated by gastric low pH.

Photodegradation of Brilliant Green Dye by a Zinc bioMOF and Crystallographic Visualization of Resulting CO2.

We present a novel bio-friendly water-stable Zn-based MOF (1), derived from the natural amino acid L-serine, which was able to efficiently photodegrade water solutions of brilliant green dye in only 120 min. The total degradation was followed by UV-Vis spectroscopy and further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, revealing the presence of CO2 within its channels. Reusability studies further demonstrate the structural and performance robustness of 1.

Highly Efficient Removal of Neonicotinoid Insecticides by Thioether-Based (Multivariate) Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Circumventing the impact of agrochemicals on aquatic environments has become a necessity for health and ecological reasons. Herein, we report the use of a family of five eco-friendly water-stable isoreticular metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), prepared from amino acids, as adsorbents for the removal of neonicotinoid insecticides (thiamethoxam, clothianidin, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid) from water. Among them, the three MOFs containing thioether-based residues show remarkable removal efficiency. In particular, the novel multivariate MOF {SrIICuII6[(S,S)-methox]1.5[(S,S)-Mecysmox]1.50(OH)2(H2O)}·36H2O (5), featuring narrow functional channels decorated with both -CH2SCH3 and -CH2CH2SCH3 thioalkyl chains-from l-methionine and l-methylcysteine amino acid-derived ligands, respectively-stands out and exhibits the higher removal efficiency, being capable to capture 100% of acetamiprid and thiacloprid in a single capture step under dynamic solid-phase extraction conditions-less than 30 s. Such unusual combination of outstanding efficiency, high stability in environmental conditions, and low-cost straightforward synthesis in 5 places this material among the most attractive adsorbents reported for the removal of this type of contaminants.

Reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes for highly efficient PFASs removal: overview, challenges and future perspectives.

Today, it is extremely urgent to face the increasing shortage of clean and safe water resources, determined by the exponential growth of both world population and its consumerism, climate change and pollution. Water remediation from traditional chemicals and contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) is supposed to be among the major methods to solve water scarcity issues. Reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membrane separation technologies have proven to be feasible, sustainable and highly effective methods for the removal of contaminants, comprising the extremely persistent and recalcitrant perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which failed to be treated through the traditional water treatment approaches. So far, however, they have been unable to assure PFASs levels under the established guidance limits for drinking water and still suffer from fouling problems, which limit their large-scale application. Novel configurations, improvement in process design and the development of high-performant materials for membrane production are important steps to tackle these issues, especially in view of new more stringent regulations limiting PFASs content in drinking water. As a possible future strategy, nanocomposite mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) offer a platform of advanced materials which promise to revolutionize RO/NF technologies for water treatment. In particular, the introduction of MOFs as adsorbent fillers in the polymeric membrane matrix appears as a viable approach for the effective and selective capture and removal of PFASs from water. The objective of this review is to provide a dedicated outlook on the most recent advances in RO and NF membrane technologies for PFASs removal. The effects of membrane properties, the solution chemistry, and contaminant properties on the RO/NF performances will be discussed in detail. Future challenges are also discussed, offering new perspectives toward the development of new advanced membranes with improved performance for PFAS removal, which are likely to significantly progress RO and NF technology for water remediation.

Soluble/MOF-Supported Palladium Single Atoms Catalyze the Ligand-, Additive-, and Solvent-Free Aerobic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohols to Benzoic Acids.

Metal single-atom catalysts (SACs) promise great rewards in terms of metal atom efficiency. However, the requirement of particular conditions and supports for their synthesis, together with the need of solvents and additives for catalytic implementation, often precludes their use under industrially viable conditions. Here, we show that palladium single atoms are spontaneously formed after dissolving tiny amounts of palladium salts in neat benzyl alcohols, to catalyze their direct aerobic oxidation to benzoic acids without ligands, additives, or solvents. With this result in hand, the gram-scale preparation and stabilization of Pd SACs within the functional channels of a novel methyl-cysteine-based metal-organic framework (MOF) was accomplished, to give a robust and crystalline solid catalyst fully characterized with the help of single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). These results illustrate the advantages of metal speciation in ligand-free homogeneous organic reactions and the translation into solid catalysts for potential industrial implementation.