This communication
briefly reviews why network topology is an important
tool (for understanding, comparing, communicating, designing, and
solving crystal structures from powder diffraction data) and then
discusses the terms of an IUPAC project dealing with various aspects
of network topology. One is the ambiguity in node assignment, and
this question is addressed in more detail. First, we define the most
important approaches: the “all node” deconstruction
considering all branch points of the linkers, the “single node”
deconstruction considering only components mixed, and the ToposPro
“standard representation” also considering linkers as
one node but, if present, takes each metal atom as a separate node.
These methods are applied to a number of metal–organic framework
structures (MOFs, although this is just one example of materials this
method is applicable on), and it is concluded that the “all
node” method potentially yields more information on the structure
in question but cannot be recommended as the only way of reporting
the network topology. In addition, several terms needing definitions
are discussed.