A series of remarkable crystalline compounds [Cu(2)(BTC)(4/3)(H(2)O)(2)](6)[H(n)XM(12)O(40)].(C(4)H(12)N)(2) (X = Si, Ge, P, As; M = W, Mo) were obtained from the simple one-step hydrothermal reaction of copper nitrate, benzentricaboxylate (BTC), and different Keggin polyoxometalates (POMs). In these compounds, the catalytically active Keggin polyanions were alternately arrayed as noncoordinating guests in the cuboctahedral cages of a Cu-BTC-based metal-organic framework (MOF) host matrix. X-ray crystallographic analyses, TG, FT-IR, UV-vis, N(2) adsorption studies, and acid-base titration demonstrated their high stability and toleration for thermal and acid-base conditions. No POM leaching or framework decomposition was observed in our study. The representative acid catalytic performance of a compound containing PW(12) species was assessed through the hydrolysis of esters in excess water, which showed high catalytic activity and can be used repeatedly without activity loss. Moreover, catalytic selectivity, which is dependent on the molecular size of substrates, and substrate accessibility for the pore surface were observed. It is the first time that the well-defined, crystalline, MOF-supported POM compound has behaved as a true heterogeneous acid catalyst. The unique attributes of MOF and well-dispersed level of POMs prohibited the conglomeration and deactivation of POMs, which allowed for the enhancement of their catalytic properties.

Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8), for the first time for ZIFs, exhibits a remarkable capacity for the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), around 660 mg of 5-FU/g of ZIF-8, and presents a pH-triggered controlled drug release property. These prove ZIF-8 to be a valuable candidate for delivery of anticancer agents and reveal its potential applications in the treatment of cancer.

A chiral nanoporous metal-organic framework (MOF) with high porosity is obtained based on nontoxic zinc and achiral hexadentate ligand. It shows high drug loading and slow release of the proportion of the loaded drug with a complete delivery time of about one week when used as a material for adsorption and delivery of anticancer 5-fluorouracil.

Two anionic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with 1D mesoporous tubes (1) and chiral mesoporous cages (2) have been rationally constructed by means of a predesigned size-extended hexatopic ligand, namely, 5,5',5''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris- (azanediyl)triisophthalate (TATAT). Charge neutrality is achieved by protonated dimethylamine cations. Notably, the two MOFs can be used to separate large molecules based on ionic selectivity rather than the size-exclusion effect so far reported in the literature. Owing to the imino triazine backbone and carboxyl groups of the hexatopic ligand, which provide important host-guest interactions, rare solvatochromic phenomena of 1 and 2 are observed on incorporating acetone and ethanol guests. Furthermore, guest-dependent luminescence properties of compound 2 were investigated, and the results show that luminescence intensity is significantly enhanced in toluene and benzene, while quenching effects are observed in acetone and ethanol. Thus, compound 2 may be a potential material for luminescent probes.

Three novel polyoxoniobates, KNa(2)[Nb(24)O(72)H(21)]·38H(2)O (1), K(2)Na(2)[Nb(32)O(96)H(28)]·80H(2)O (2), and K(12)[Nb(24)O(72)H(21)](4)·107H(2)O (3) with molecular triangle, molecular square, and cuboctahedral molecular cage geometries, respectively, have been successfully synthesized by conventional aqueous methods. All the compounds are built from [Nb(7)O(22)](9-) fundamental building units. Compound 1 is the first isolated {Nb(24)O(72)} cluster, featuring three heptaniobate clusters linked in a ring by three additional NbO(6) octahedra, while compound 2 is the largest isopolyoxoniobate cluster reported to date, consisting of four heptaniobate clusters linked by four additional NbO(6) octahedra. Compound 3 is the largest solid aggregation of polyoxoniobates, assembled by four {KNb(24)O(72)} clusters joined by four K ions. To our knowledge, it is the first time these polyoxoniobate clusters have been crystallized with only alkali-metal counterions, thereby giving them the possibility of being redissolved in water. ESI-MS spectra indicate that compounds 1 and 2 remain structural integrity when the pure, crystalline polyanion salts are dissolved in water, while compound 3 is partially assembled into Nb(24) fragments. The UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra of these powder samples indicate that the corresponding well-defined optical absorption associated with E(g) can be assessed at 3.35, 3.17, and 3.34 eV, respectively, revealing the presence of an optical band gap and the nature of semiconductivity with a wide band gap. UV-light photocatalytic H(2) evolution activities were observed for these compounds with Co(III)(dmgH)(2)pyCl as a cocatalyst and TEA as a sacrificial electron donor.