A Thiol-Functionalized UiO-67-Type Porous Single Crystal: Filling in the Synthetic Gap

Thiol groups (−SH) offer versatile reactivity for functionalizing metal–organic frameworks, and yet thiol-equipped MOF solids remain underexplored due to synthetic challenges. Building on the recent breakthrough using benzyl mercaptan as the sulfur source and AlCl3 for uncovering the thiol function, we report on the thiol-equipped linker 3,3′-dimercaptobiphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid and its reaction with Zr(IV) ions to form a UiO-67-type MOF solid with distinct functionalities. The thiol-equipped UiO-67 scaffold shows substantial stability toward oxidation, e.g., it can be treated with 30% H2O2 to afford oxidation of the thiol to the strongly acidic sulfonic function while maintaining the ordered porous MOF structure. The thiol groups also effectively take up palladium(II) ions from solutions to allow for comparative studies on catalytic activities and to help elucidate how the spatial configuration of the thiol groups can be engineered to impact the performance of heterogeneous catalysis in the solid state. Comparative studies on the stability in the solventless (activated) state also help to highlight the steric factor in stabilizing UiO-67-type frameworks.