In recent years, it has been recognized that the bridging angle in Me−eIM−Me (Me: Zn or Co and eIM : 2-ethylimidazolate) is coincident with that of the Si−O−Si angle in zeolites (145°), and therefore it can make new metal azolate frameworks (MAFs) with topologies based on tetrahedral zeolites.
Me(eIM)2 belongs to the family of MAFs, has three isomers which have the same molecular formula but different topology (ANA-MAF-5, RHO-MAF-6 and qtz-MAF-32). These materials are hydrophobic, have large capillary diameters, thermally and hydrothermally stable, so they have different physical and chemical properties, leading to different applications in practice.
This review report collects results from more than 100 research papers related to Me(eIM)2 from 2006 to present and provides some recommendations on their synthesis, characterization and application in the future.