An electron-deficient and potentially chromic ligand has been utilized to impart redox activity, photo- and hydrochromism, and solvotomagnetism to metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). A pair of MOFs were constructed from the flexible zwitterionic viologen-tethered tetracarboxylate linker N,N'-bis(3,5-dicarboxylatobenzyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium (L): [Co(L)(N)] (1) and [Mn(L)(N)(HO)]·3HO (2). Both compounds show three-dimensional frameworks in which mixed azido- and carboxylato-bridged chains are connected through the electron-deficient viologen moieties. The chain in 1 is built from alternating bis(azide) and (azide)bis(carboxylate) bridges, while that in 2 contains uniform (azide) (carboxylate) bridges. The MOFs shows the characteristic redox properties of the viologen moieties. The redox activity affords the MOFs with different chromic properties, owing to subtle differences in chemical environments. 1 shows reversible photochromism, which is related to the radical formation through photoinduced electron transfer from azide-carboxylate to viologen according to UV-vis, X-ray photoelectron, and electron spin resonance spectroscopy and DFT calculations. 2 is nonphotochromic for lack of appropriate pathways for electron transfer. Unexpectedly, 2 shows a novel type of solid-state hydrochromism. Upon the removal and reabsorption of water, the compound shows remarkable color change because of reversible electron transfer accompanying a reversible structural transformation. The radical mechanism is distinct from those for traditional hydrochromic inorganic and organic materials. Magnetic studies indicate ferro- and antiferromagnetic coupling in 1 and 2, respectively. What's more, 2 shows marked magnetic response to the removal of water molecules owing to the formation of radicals. The compound illustrates a unique material exhibiting dual responses (color and magnetism) to water.

The solvothermal reaction of Mn(ClO4)2, NaN3, and a rigid viologen-tethered tetracarboxylic acid (1,1'-bis(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium chloride, [H4L]Cl2) led to a coordination polymer of formula [Mn4(L)(N3)6(H2O)2]n. X-ray analysis revealed a 3D coordination structure. The Mn(II) ions are connected by mixed azide and carboxylate bridges to give 2D layers, which are pillared by the viologen tether of the zwitterionic ligand. Magnetic analyses suggested that the compound features antiferromagnetism and field-induced metamagnetism. The compound also shows photochromic and photomagnetic properties. The long-range magnetic ordering is owed to the spin-canting structure of the Mn(II)-azide-carboxylate layer; the photochromism involves the formation of viologen radicals via photoinduced electron transfer, and the photomagnetism is related to the interactions between the metal ion and the photogenerated radicals. The study demonstrates a strategy for the design of new multifunctional materials with photoresponsive properties.

New MIL-101 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) dually functionalized with amino and sulfo groups were fabricated by postsynthetic modification and used to catalyze one-pot deacetalization-Knoevenagel condensation. We proved that the MOFs take the zwitterionic form, with the catalytic acid site being the ammonium group rather than the sulfo one. The acid and base concentrations in the materials are correlated, and the ratio can be readily tuned to achieve optimal catalytic performance.

The postsynthetically created electron-deficient 2,2'-bipyridinium moieties in a Zr-MOF provide charge-transfer interacting sites for recognizing and capturing alkylamines with excellent selectivity; meanwhile the MOF shows fast and reversible vapochromism and luminescence quenching in response to alkyamines.