Experimental Approaches for the Synthesis of Low-Valent Metal-Organic Frameworks from Multitopic Phosphine Linkers

Summary

Here, we describe a protocol for the synthesis of low-valent metal-organic frameworks (LVMOFs) from low-valent metals and multitopic phosphine linkers under air-free conditions. The resulting materials have potential applications as heterogeneous catalyst mimics of low-valent metal-based homogeneous catalysts.

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are the subject of intense research focus due to their potential applications in gas storage and separation, biomedicine, energy, and catalysis. Recently, low-valent MOFs (LVMOFs) have been explored for their potential use as heterogeneous catalysts, and multitopic phosphine linkers have been shown to be a useful building block for the formation of LVMOFs. However, the synthesis of LVMOFs using phosphine linkers requires conditions that are distinct from those in the majority of the MOF synthetic literature, including the exclusion of air and water and the use of unconventional modulators and solvents, making it somewhat more challenging to access these materials. This work serves as a general tutorial for the synthesis of LVMOFs with phosphine linkers, including information on the following: 1) the judicious choice of the metal precursor, modulator, and solvent; 2) the experimental procedures, air-free techniques, and required equipment; 3) the proper storage and handling of the resultant LVMOFs; and 4) useful characterization methods for these materials. The intention of this report is to lower the barrier to this new subfield of MOF research and facilitate advancements toward novel catalytic materials.

Introduction

Metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs, are a class of crystalline, porous materials¹. MOFs are constructed from metal ions or metal ion cluster nodes, often referred to as secondary building units (SBUs), and multitopic organic linkers to give two- and three-dimensional network structures². Over the past three decades, MOFs have been studied extensively due to their potential use in gas storage³ and separation⁴, biomedicine⁵, and catalysis⁶. The overwhelming majority of MOFs reported are composed of high-oxidation state metal node....

Protocol

1. Setting up the Schlenk line

1. Ensure all the taps are closed, then secure the cold trap to the Schlenk line using an O-ring (size 229 was used in our set up, although the size may vary depending on the specific Schlenk line used), and clamp.
2. Turn on the vacuum pump (gas-ballast closed), and then open the taps of the Schlenk line such that the whole apparatus is open to vacuum.
   NOTE: Do not open any taps to the hoses or any other taps that are open to the air; the apparatus s.......

Discussion

There are several critical steps in the protocol that must be followed in order to achieve the desired phosphine-based LVMOF product with sufficient crystallinity. The first is that the metal precursor and modulator mixture (in this case, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) and triphenylphosphine, respectively) must be dissolved independently of the multitopic phosphine linker (in this case, Sn1). This is to avoid the rapid and irreversible formation of amorphous coordination polymers, which occurs .......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
2800 Ultrasonic Cleaner, 3/4 Gallon, 40 kHz	Branson	CPX2800H	Used for sonicating
Argon, Ultra High Purity	Matheson	G1901101	Used as inert gas source
D8 ADVANCE Powder X-Ray Diffractometer	Bruker		Used to collect PXRD patterns
Dewar Flask	Chemglass Life Sciences	CG159303	Dewar used for liquid nitrogen
Flask, High Vacuum Valve, Capacity (mL) 10, Valve Size 0-4 mm	Synthware Glass	F490010	Reaction vessel referred to as "10 mL flask"
Grade 2 Qualitative Filter Paper, Standard, 42.5 mm circle	Whatman	1002-042	Used for product isolation
Methylene Chloride (HPLC)	Fisher Scientific	MFCD00000881	Dried and deoxygenated prior to use
Sn1 (tetratopic phosphine linker)			Prepared according to literature procedure (ref. 15)
SuperNuova+ Stirring Hotplate	Thermo Fisher Scientific	SP88850190	Used to heat oil bath
Tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium(0), 99% (99.9+%-Pd)	Strem Chemicals	46-2150	Commercial Pd(0) source
Toluene (HPLC)	Fisher Scientific	MFCD00008512	Dried and deoxygenated prior to use
Triphenylphosphine, ≥95.0% (GC)	Sigma-Aldrich	93092	Used as a modulator
Weighing Paper	Fisher Scientific	09-898-12B	Used for solid addition