Shake 'n Bake Route to Functionalized Zr-UiO-66 Metal-Organic Frameworks

We report a novel synthetic procedure for the high-yield synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with fcu topology with a UiO-66-like structure starting from a range of commercial Zr-IV precursors and various substituted dicarboxylic linkers. The syntheses are carried out by grinding in a ball mill the starting reagents, namely, Zr salts and the dicarboxylic linkers, in the presence of a small amount of acetic acid and water (1 mL total volume for 1 mmol of each reagent), followed by incubation at either room temperature or 120 degrees C. Such a simple shake 'n bake procedure, inspired by the solid-state reaction of inorganic materials, such as oxides, avoids the use of large amounts of solvents generally used for the syntheses of Zr-MOF. Acidity of the linkers and the amount of water are found to be crucial factors in affording materials of quality comparable to that of products obtained under solvo- or hydrothermal conditions.

Automated summary

A novel synthetic procedure for high-yield synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with fcu topology is reported in this study, utilizing a simple shake 'n bake procedure inspired by the solid-state reaction of inorganic materials. The acidity of linkers and the amount of water are found to be crucial factors in obtaining materials of comparable quality to those obtained under solvo- or hydrothermal conditions.