Dispersing metal‐organic framework (MOF) solids in stable colloids is crucial for their availability and processibility. Herein, we report a crown ether surface coordination approach for functionalizing the surface‐exposed metal sites of MOF particles with amphiphilic carboxylated crown ether (CEC). The surface‐bound crown ethers significantly improve MOF solvation without compromising the accessible voids. We demonstrate that CEC‐coated MOFs exhibit exceptional colloidal dispersibility and stability in 11 distinct solvents and six polymer matrices with a wide range of polarities. The MOF‐CEC can be instantaneously suspended in immiscible two‐phase solvents as an effective phase‐transfer catalyst and can form various uniform membranes with enhanced adsorption and separation performance, which highlights the effectiveness of crown ether coating.

An obstacle to conducting diverse bioorthogonal reactions in living systems is the sensitivity of artificial metal catalysts. It has been reported that artificial metallocatalysts can be assembled in “cleaner” environments in cells for stabilized performance, which is powerful but is limited by the prerequisite of using specific cells. We report here a strategy to establish membrane-anchored catalysts with precise spatial control via liposome fusion–based transport (MAC-LiFT), loading bioorthogonal catalytic complexes onto either or both sides of the membrane leaflets. We show that the inner face of the cytoplasmic membrane serves as a reliable shelter for metal centers, protecting the complexes from deactivation thus substantially lowering the amount of catalyst needed for effective intracellular catalysis. This MAC-LiFT approach makes it possible to establish catalyst-protective systems with exclusively exogenous agents in a wide array of mammalian cells, allowing convenient and wider use of diverse bioorthogonal reactions in live cellular systems.

Dispersing metal–organic framework (MOF) solids in stable colloids is critical for their availability and processibility. In their Communication (e202303280), Hang Xing et al. report a crown ether surface coordination approach that enables the universal suspension of various MOF powders into immiscible polar and nonpolar solvents, exhibiting exceptional dispersibility without compromising the accessible voids. The crown ether‐coated MOFs exhibit potential as effective phase‐transfer catalysts and enable the fabrication of uniform membranes with improved performances.

Dispersing metal–organic framework (MOF) solids in stable colloids is critical for their availability and processibility. In their Communication (e202303280), Hang Xing et al. report a crown ether surface coordination approach that enables the universal suspension of various MOF powders into immiscible polar and nonpolar solvents, exhibiting exceptional dispersibility without compromising the accessible voids. The crown ether‐coated MOFs exhibit potential as effective phase‐transfer catalysts and enable the fabrication of uniform membranes with improved performances.

Dispersing metal‐organic framework (MOF) solids in stable colloids is crucial for their availability and processibility. Herein, we report a crown ether surface coordination approach for functionalizing the surface‐exposed metal sites of MOF particles with amphiphilic carboxylated crown ether (CEC). The surface‐bound crown ethers significantly improve MOF solvation without compromising the accessible voids. We demonstrate that CEC‐coated MOFs exhibit exceptional colloidal dispersibility and stability in 11 distinct solvents and six polymer matrices with a wide range of polarities. The MOF‐CEC can be instantaneously suspended in immiscible two‐phase solvents as an effective phase‐transfer catalyst and can form various uniform membranes with enhanced adsorption and separation performance, which highlights the effectiveness of crown ether coating.