Unprecedented sulfone-functionalized metal-organic frameworks and gas-sorption properties

A study was conducted to demonstrate significant sulfone-functionalized metal-organic frameworks (MOF) and gas sorption properties. The ligand (1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid was functionalized with -SO₃H groups and used as a linker to construct coordination polymers and conduct the investigations. The sulfone (-SO₂) derivative of (1,1'-biphenyl)-4, 4'-dicarboxylic acid was isolated to conduct the investigations. The investigations revealed two novel three dimensional (3D) non-isoreticular porous MOFs with specific structures. The MOFs were isolated from controlled solvothermal reactions between (1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid and Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O. The unique structures of the MOFs were demonstrated as UoC-1 and UoC-2 that included the formation of novel inorganic secondary building units (SBUs) with significant double organic bridging connectivity in all directions.