Crystalline materials, such as metal–organic frameworks
(MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and hydrogen-bonded organic
frameworks (HOFs), have drawn much attention in a wide range of fields
because of their controllable pore structures. Herein, using the second-sphere
coordination approach, a series of metalo-hydrogen-bonded organic
frameworks (MHOFs) have been synthesized through self-assembly of
a bent-shaped organic dication H2
L (L = 4,4′-methylenedianiline) with X–, [MX4]2–, or [MX6]4– (X = Cl, Br; M = Cd, Pd, Sn), yielding networks with one-dimensional
(1D) channels or semienclosed cages. The frameworks with a one-dimensional
channel (1D) encapsulate water, forming a well-defined hydrogen bonding
array, and are thermally stable while keeping the channels under melting
point. The size of the channels is influenced by the anion, which
results in the uptake of different liquid solvents by the channels
after the removal of H2O.