The crystalline sponge method is a powerful approach to studying the structures of guest molecules, including liquids and gases, trapped within a porous crystalline framework material.[1] Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which allow both single crystal-to-single crystal transformations and possess a metal coordinating domain, can similarly be used to structurally characterise mono- and dinuclear metal complexes.[2] This can allow the identification of novel or strained coordination environments,[3] the characterisation of unusual or reactive species,[3,4] and provide insight into metal centred reactivity that occurs in chemical transformations or catalysis.[5]
This presentation will provide a brief overview of this chemistry, particularly focussing on the design of MOFs for site isolation and study of metal-centred reactivity, and the methodology and approach to providing structural insights into mono- and dinuclear metal complexes “site isolated” in a MOF matrix. Some examples of the results and the lessons learned in doing this chemistry will be shared.
References
[1] Y. Inokuma, et al., Nature, 2013, 495, 461–466.
[2] a) R. J. Young, et al., Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 4031–4050. b) J. Albalad, et al., CrystEngComm, 2021, 23, 2185-2195.
[3] a) W. M. Bloch, et al., Nat. Chem., 2014, 6, 906–912. b) P. Gimeno-Fonquernie, et al., Inorg. Chem., 2023, 62, 19208-19217. c) P. Gimeno-Fonquernie, et al., J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024, 12, 2359-2369.
[4] Rosemary J. Young, et al., Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 9409-9417.
[5] a) A. Burgun, et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2017, 56, 8412-8416. b) R. A. Peralta, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2020, 142, 13533-13543.