Ferroelectric Switchable Behavior through Fast Reversible De/adsorption of Water Spirals in a Chiral 3D Metal-Organic Framework

A polar homochiral 3D MOF [{Co-2(L)(bpe)(H2O)}center dot 5H(2)O](n) constructed with cobalt(II) and a new ligand N-(1,3-dicarboxy-5-benzyl)-carboxymethylglycine (H4L) accommodates ordered helical water streams in its helical grooves. It provides the first example of switchable ferroelectric and optical behavior through two-step reversible single-crystal to single-crystal transformation (SCSC) upon desorption/adsorption of water spirals and coordinated water molecules, respectively.