The lightweight magnesium ion demonstrates great potentials in construction of low cost, porous Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) that are highly efficient in the selective capture of CO2 gas. Much efforts have been made to optimize efficiency of Mg-MOFs through network topology and framework geometry. While there is a rapidly growing library of ligands used to enhance network topology, the selection of the Mg building block that dictates framework geometry remains fairly simple. To date, only monomeric, dimeric, and trimeric Mg-MOFs have been reported. Higher units of Mg connectors in MOFs is virtually unknown. Through specific environment for crystal growth and selective choice of magnesium salts, we have successfully developed unprecedented 2D and 3D frameworks based on two kinds of tetrameric magnesium clusters. Here, we report the stable Mg4(OH) square planar and the Mg4(OCH3)4 cubane clusters connected by hydroxides and carboxylates. These structures are capable of serving as versatile connectors to design symmetric porous MOF materials for gas sorption.

Novel metal organic frameworks through tetrameric magnesium clusters

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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