Chiral copper(i)–organic frameworks for dye degradation and the enantioselective recognition of amino acids

Abstract

Covalent metal–organic frameworks (CMOFs) are a novel class of porous materials made by combining the chemistry of metal– and covalent organic frameworks (MOFs and COFs) and have attracted sustained attention, yet the preparation of chiral CMOFs remains a challenge. Herein, four novel 2D chiral CMOFs have been prepared through imine condensation between enantiopure BINOL-based dialdehyde linkers and copper(I) cyclic trinuclear units (Cu-CTUs). The synthesized 2D chiral CMOFs ((R)/(S)-JNM-10 and (R)/(S)-JNM-11) afford highly crystalline, well-ordered porous structures, good thermal stability and chemical robustness. JNM-10 and JNM-11 can be used for dye adsorption and degradation and the chiral separation of amino acids like tryptophan. This work not only provides a promising platform for the synthesis of chiral CMOFs but also motivates further research on the enantioselective recognition of chiral molecules.