The utility of the template effect in metal-organic frameworks

This review details the emergence and continued study of the template effect in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with emphasis upon (i) reports of template-directed synthesis of MOFs and (ii) using MOFs as hosts to template the formation of new guest species. We focus herein on the relationship between the pore environments of MOF hosts and their guests, and the resulting host-guest properties. Such understanding can enable template effects to serve as a supplementary tool of crystal engineering since it can afford new and otherwise unattainable MOF structures. Templating can also result in control over the chemical reactivity of guests through an enzymatic like process. We also address emerging applications of MOFs formed through a template effect. We anticipate that this review will provide a guide for future research into preparing functional MOFs with targeted structures or properties and to generate reaction products using MOFs as templates.