A series of new zinc­(II)–thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylate (tdc) MOFs based on novel dodecanuclear wheel-shaped building blocks has been synthesized in almost quantative yields. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal 3D porous frameworks with a complex composition [Zn12(tdc)6(glycolate)6(dabco)3] where glycolate is a deprotonated polyatomic alcohol (ethylene glycol, EgO2, 1; 1,2-propanediol, PrO2, 2; 1,2-butanediol, BuO2, 3; 1,2-pentanediol, PeO2, 4; glycerol, GlO2, 5) and dabco is 1,4-diazo[2.2.2.]­bicyclooctane. All compounds 1–5 are isostructural except for pendant groups of the diols decorating the surface of channels. The adsorption of small gases (N2, CO2, CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6) and larger hydrocarbons (benzene, cyclohexane) both in liquid and vapor phases was thoroughly investigated for all compounds. The zero-coverage adsorption enthalpies, Henry constants, and selectivity factors by various models are calculated and discussed. The versatile adsorption functionality of the title series results from the variable nature of the diol and could be tailored for a specific adsorbate system. For example, 1 shows excellent selectivity of benzene over cyclohexane (20:1 for vapors, 92:1 for liquid phase), while 4 demonstrates unprecedented adsorption preference of cyclohexane over benzene (selectivity up to 5:1). The compound 5 demonstrates great adsorption selectivity for CO2/N2 (up to 75.1), CO2/CH4 (up to 7.7), C2H2/CH4 (up to 14.2), and C2H4/CH4 (up to 9.4). Also, due to polar nature of the pores, 5 features size-selective sorption of alkaline metal cations in order Li+ > Na+ > K+ > Cs+ as well as a notable luminescent response for cesium­(I) ions and urea.

The redox-active rhenium octahedral cluster unit [ReSe(CN)] was combined with Gd ions and dicarboxylate linkers in novel types of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that display a set of functional properties. The hydrolytically stable complexes [{Gd(HO)}(L)ReSe(CN)]·nHO (1, L = furan-2,5-dicarboxylate, fdc; 2, L = thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylate, tdc) exhibit a 3D framework of trigonal symmetry where 1D chains of [{Gd(HO)}(L)] are connected by [ReSe(CN)] clusters. Frameworks contain spacious channels filled with HO. Solvent molecules can be easily removed under vacuum to produce permanently porous solids with high volumetric CO uptake and remarkable CO/N selectivity at room temperature. The frameworks demonstrate an ability for reversible redox transformations of the cluster fragment. The orange powders of compounds 1 and 2 react with Br, yielding dark-green powders of [{Gd(HO)}(L)ReSe(CN)]Br·nHO (3, L = fdc; 4, L = tdc). Compounds 3 and 4 are isostructural with 1 and 2 and also have permanently porous frameworks but display different optical, magnetic, and sorption properties. In particular, oxidation of the cluster fragment "switches off" its luminescence in the red region, and the incorporation of Br leads to a decrease of the solvent-accessible volume in the channels of 3 and 4. Finally, the green powders of 3 and 4 can be reduced back to the orange powders of 1 and 2 by reaction with hydrazine, thus displaying a rare ability for fully reversible chemical redox transitions. Compounds 1-4 are mentioned as a new class of redox-active cluster-based MOFs with potential usage as multifunctional materials for gas separation and chemical contamination sensors.

Highly porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterials have distinct advantages in energy storage and conversion technologies. In the present work, hydrothermal treatments in water or ammonia solution were used for modification of mesoporous nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon, synthesized by deposition of acetonitrile vapors on the pyrolysis products of calcium tartrate. Morphology, composition, and textural characteristics of the original and activated materials were studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and nitrogen gas adsorption method. Both treatments resulted in a slight increase in specific surface area and volume of micropores and small mesopores due to the etching of carbon surface. Compared to the solely aqueous medium, activation with ammonia led to stronger destruction of the graphitic shells, the formation of larger micropores (1.4 nm vs 0.6 nm), a higher concentration of carbonyl groups, and the addition of nitrogen-containing groups. The tests of nitrogen-doped carbon materials as electrodes in 1M H2SO4 electrolyte and sodium-ion batteries showed improvement of electrochemical performance after hydrothermal treatments especially when ammonia was used. The activation method developed in this work is hopeful to open up a new route of designing porous nitrogen-doped carbon materials for electrochemical applications.