Product control by halide ions of ionic liquids in the ionothermal syntheses of Ni-(H)BTC metal-organic frameworks

Ni(OAc)(2)-H3BTC system in various ionic liquids, [RMI]X (R = ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl; X = Cl, Br, I), produced five MOFs in two structure types; their relative thermodynamic stability varies with the size of RMI+, and the X- ions govern the kinetic factors so that their combination effects determine the final product.