Three new metal-organic frameworks [MOF-525, Zr(6)O(4)(OH)(4)(TCPP-H(2))(3); MOF-535, Zr(6)O(4)(OH)(4)(XF)(3); MOF-545, Zr(6)O(8)(H(2)O)(8)(TCPP-H(2))(2), where porphyrin H(4)-TCPP-H(2) = (C(48)H(24)O(8)N(4)) and cruciform H(4)-XF = (C(42)O(8)H(22))] based on two new topologies, ftw and csq, have been synthesized and structurally characterized. MOF-525 and -535 are composed of Zr(6)O(4)(OH)(4) cuboctahedral units linked by either porphyrin (MOF-525) or cruciform (MOF-535). Another zirconium-containing unit, Zr(6)O(8)(H(2)O)(8), is linked by porphyrin to give the MOF-545 structure. The structure of MOF-525 was obtained by analysis of powder X-ray diffraction data. The structures of MOF-535 and -545 were resolved from synchrotron single-crystal data. MOF-525, -535, and -545 have Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface areas of 2620, 1120, and 2260 m(2)/g, respectively. In addition to their large surface areas, both porphyrin-containing MOFs are exceptionally chemically stable, maintaining their structures under aqueous and organic conditions. MOF-525 and -545 were metalated with iron(III) and copper(II) to yield the metalated analogues without losing their high surface area and chemical stability.

A template-directed protocol, which capitalizes on donor-acceptor interactions, is employed to synthesize a semi-rigid cyclophane (ExBox(4+)) that adopts a box-like geometry and is comprised of π-electron-poor 1,4-phenylene-bridged ("extended") bipyridinium units (ExBIPY(2+)). ExBox(4+) functions as a high-affinity scavenger of an array of different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), ranging from two to seven fused rings, as a result of its large, accommodating cavity (approximately 3.5 Å in width and 11.2 Å in length when considering the van der Waals radii) and its ability to form strong non-covalent bonding interactions with π-electron-rich PAHs in either organic or aqueous media. In all, 11 PAH guests were observed to form inclusion complexes with ExBox(4+), with coronene being the largest included guest. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data for the 11 inclusion complexes ExBox(4+)⊂PAH as well as UV/vis spectroscopic data for 10 of the complexes provide evidence of the promiscuity of ExBox(4+) for the various PAHs. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetric analyses of 10 of the inclusion complexes are employed to further characterize the host-guest interactions in solution and determine the degree with which ExBox(4+) binds each PAH compound. As a proof-of-concept, a batch of crude oil from Saudi Arabia was subjected to extraction with the water-soluble form of the PAH receptor, ExBox·4Cl, resulting in the isolation of different aromatic compounds after ExBox·4Cl was regenerated.

Constructing metalated three-dimensional (3D) covalent organic frameworks is a challenging synthetic task. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a highly porous (SA = 5083 m g) 3D COF with a record low density (0.13 g cm) containing π-electron conjugated dehydrobenzoannulene (DBA) units. Metalation of DBA-3D-COF 1 with Ni to produce Ni-DBA-3D-COF results in a minimal reduction in the surface area (SA = 4763 m g) of the material due to the incorporation of the metal within the cavity of the DBA units, and retention of crystallinity. Both 3D DBA-COFs also display great uptake capacities for ethane and ethylene gas.

This review highlights the luminescent and unique photophysical properties of covalent organic frameworks. Their potential use in applications related to chemical sensing, photocatalysis, and optoelectronics are discussed.