Strategic design and synthesis of star-shaped organic linkers for mesoporous MOFs

In the process of designing new MOFs with the aim of having a specific morphology, the shape of the linkers and the choice of coordinating metals have major importance. In this study, the aim to create novel hnb non-interpenetrating MOFs led us to choose tritopic linkers. Novel star-shaped molecules, presenting trigonal geometry and based on aromatic rings, were synthesized. For more convenient synthesis of the library, C–C coupling reactions via a direct arylation methodology were performed. This new synthetic tool, together with the idea of a molecule as a modular combination of smaller building blocks, made possible the fast, cheap and reproducible production of this class of compounds and also its scale-up. With one of the compounds, a MOF was synthesized and characterised via its specific surface area, which varies between 1681 and 3770 m² g⁻¹.