Identification of Reaction Conditions That Can Reproducibly Lead to a Particular Vertex Geometry: Quest for a Robust and Reproducible Metal-Carboxylate Noncluster-type SBU

The present work reports the identification of a robust and reproducible metal-carboxylate noncluster-based secondary building unit (SBU) using flexible ligands, methylenebis(3,5-dimethylpyrazole). and homologous alkanedicarboxylic acids (HOOC(CH2)(n)-COOH). We have successfully synthesized a series of zinc(II) coordination polymers using a tailor-made SBU, designed with the proper utilization of the hydrogen bonds of a pyrazole-based ligand. We have identified a clear correlation between the type of auxiliary linker used and the vertex geometry that is present in the resultant network. This, in effect, can pave the way for the strategic control of the vertex geometry, which should enable Lis to design and predict the topology and dimensionality of a metal-organic framework.