Synthesis, crystal structure and characterization of two new metal-organic frameworks with 1,3,5-tris[(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]benzene and cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate ligands

Abstract

Two new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) {[Cu3(timb)2(chtc)2]·14H2O}n, (I) and {[Co3(timb)2(chtc)2]·6H2O}n, (II) were hydrothermally synthesized by corresponding metal salt with mixed organic ligands of 1,3,5-tris[(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]benzene (timb) and cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (H3chtc). Crystal structural analysis reveals that they exhibit varied structures. In the MOFs (I), CuII adopts an four coordination geometry, timb and cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate ligands bridge neighboring CuII centers to result in two different one-dimensional knotted chains along the [0 − 1 2] and [1 0 − 1] directions, respectively. The two kinds of chains intersect each other vis CuII centers, resulting in a two-dimensional layered structure running parallel to the (1 2 1) plane. Adjacent layers are further linked by water moleculars via classical O–H…O hydrogen-bonding interactions, giving rise to a three-dimensional supramolecular network structure in the solid state. While in MOFs (II), the cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate anions link the CoII cations to generate a two-dimensional sheeted metal-organic structure running parallel to the bc plane. Adjacent sheets are further bridged by timb ligands, forming a porous three-dimensional metal-organic framework with a rare (3, 4)-connected (6.82)2(62.84)3(62.8)2 topology. The solvent water molecules guest in the micropores of porous framework via water-carboxylate O–H…O hydrogen bonds. In addition, their thermal stabilities have also been investigated.