Functional group effects on metal–organic framework topology

Functionalization of the ligand 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (H3BTB) has been realized with methoxy (H3BTB–[OMe]3) and hydroxy (H3BTB–[OH]3) groups. Combining H3BTB–[OMe]3 and Zn(II) results in the formation of the first isostructural, functionalized analogue of MOF-177 (MOF-177–OMe), while the combination of H3BTB–[OH]3 and Zn(II) generates a rare, interpenetrated pcu-e framework.