Chemical instability of Cu3(BTC)2 by reaction with thiols

In contrast to Fe(BTC) (BTC: 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate), the crystal structure of Cu-3(BTC)(2), a commercial metal organic framework widely used as solid catalyst, collapses when contacted with thiols under mild reaction conditions forming copper nanoparticles. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.