A tritopic carboxylate ligand, tris(4'-carboxybiphenyl)amine (L-H(3)), has been synthesized and applied in the construction of microporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Two novel metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), {[Zn(2)(L)(OH)]·2DMF·H(2)O}(∞) (1) and {[Cu(L-H)(DMA)]·DMA·2H(2)O}(∞) (2), have been constructed out of L-H(3), Zn(2+), and Cu(2+), respectively. 1 has a 2-fold interpenetrating three-dimensional framework formed by L connectors and the [Zn(2)(CO(2))(3)] secondary building units (SBUs). As for 1, it is worth pointing out that one μ(2)-OH group links two Zn atoms between two neighboring SBUs to produce interesting Zn-O-Zn zigzag chains in the structure. 2 has a two-dimensional grid sheet formed by L-H connectors and the typical paddle-wheel [Cu(2)(CO(2))(4)] SBUs. Two-dimensional (2D) sheets nest with each other, which finally forms a three-dimensional (3D) nested framework. Two MOFs are characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, single-crystal and elemental analyses, and powder X-ray diffraction methods. Framework 1' exhibits high permanent porosity (Langmuir surface area = 848 m(2)/g), high thermal stability (up to 450 °C), highly active properties for Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction, as well as the potential application for the CO(2) gas storage and luminescent material. The catalytic results reveal that 2' is indeed an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for olefin epoxidation reactions.

A series of new isostructural lanthanide MOFs, [Ln 2 (pda) 3 -(H 2 O)]·2H 2 O [Ln = La (1), Ce(2), Pr(3), Nd(4), Sm(5), Eu(6), Gd(7), Tb(8), Dy(9), Ho(10), Er(11), Tm(12), and Yb (13); H 2 dpa = 1,4-phenylenediacetate], have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal (or/and powder) X-ray diffraction analysis. All the MOFs are isostructural and consist of 1D Ln-COO helixes that are cross-linked by the -CH 2 C 6 H 4 CH 2 -spacers of the pda 2-anions in a 3D compressed honeycomb-shaped network with 1D open channels, which accommodate guest and coordi-

To solve serious energy and environmental crises caused by rapid industrial development, the formation of heterostructured photocatalysts is a promising approach for efficient and scalable H 2 production from water splitting. In this study, a strategy for the synthesis of triphenylphosphine-based covalent organic framework (P-COF-1)/covalent triazine framework (CTF) 2D−2D heterojunctions via intermolecular π−π interactions has been reported. The experimental results show that the H 2 production rate of the 5% P-COF-1/CTF heterojunction exhibits 14,100 μmol h −1 g −1 , which is 2.5−2.6 times as much as that of pure CTF and the mechanical mixture (5% P-COF-1 + CTF). Based on the results of characterization and theoretical calculations, a possible mechanism to well explain the enhanced photocatalytic performance of the Type II heterojunction system has been proposed. The present work provides an idea to construct highly efficient and stable COF/CTF all-organic heterojunctions, and this strategy broadens the application range of COF/CTF-based heterojunction materials easily by adjusting the composition and structure of COF materials.

A novel asymmetric phenol-based 'end-off' dinucleating ligand 2-{[(2-piperidylmethyl)amino]methyl}-4-bromo-6-[(1-methylhomopiperazine-4-yl)methyl]phenol (HL) and three dinuclear nickel(II) complexes, [Ni₂L(μ-OH)] (ClO₄)₂ (1), [Ni₂L(DNBA)₂(CH₃CN)₂]BPh₄ (2) and [Ni₂L(BPP)₂(CH₃CN)₂]BPh₄ (3) have been synthesized and characterized by a variety of techniques including: NMR, infrared and UV-vis spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, molar conductivity, thermal analysis, magnetochemistry and single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. The UV-vis spectrum of complex 1 exhibits a strong peak at 510 nm, a characteristic absorption of a d-d transition of the square-planar four-coordinated Ni(II) center. Utilizing this feature, the stepwise formation of mono- and dinickel centers in solution can be monitored. Phosphodiesterase activity of a dinuclear Ni(II) system (complex 1), formed in situ by a 2 : 1 mixture of Ni(2+) ions and the ligand HL, was investigated using bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP) as the substrate. The pH dependence of the BNPP cleavage in water-ethanol (1 : 1, v/v) reveals a bell-shaped pH-k(obs) profile with an optimum at about pH 8.3 which is parallel to the formation of the dinuclear species [Ni₂L(μ-OH)](2+), according to the increase of the peak at 510 nm in the UV-vis absorption spectrum . These studies reveal that the di-Ni(II) system shows the highest catalytic activity reported so far, with an acceleration rate 1.28 × 10⁷ times faster than the uncatalyzed reaction. The bridging hydroxyl group in [Ni₂L(μ-OH)](2+) is responsible for the hydrolysis reaction. The possible mechanism for the BNPP cleavage promoted by di-Ni(II) system is proposed on the basis of kinetic and spectral analyses. This study provides a less common example of the asymmetric phosphodiesterase model, which is like the active sites of most native metallohydrolases.

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