Three
new pairs of 2-fold interpenetrated and self-entangled three-dimensional
isostructural porous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), [Zn(L1)(x)0.5]·0.5H2O (x = bipy for 1, bpa
for 2, and bpe for 3) and [Zn(L2)(x)0.5]·0.5H2O (x = bipy for 4, bpa
for 5, and bpe for 6) [bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine,
bpa = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene,
and bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene], have been created and fine-tuned
via similar skeleton ligands 2-(imidazol-1-yl)terephthalic acid (H2L1) and 2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)terephthalic
acid (H2L2) and N-auxiliary coligands with different linking
groups. Interestingly, the porosities of
the MOFs can be effectively increased via the insertion of −CH2CH2– or −CHCH– spacers
into the N-auxiliary bipy ligand. As a result, complexes 5 and 6 displayed highly enhanced CO2 uptake
capacities. Furthermore, complex 5 also had
a higher C2/C1 selectivity as well as great
CO2 cycloaddition efficiency.