A Porous Metal-organic Framework Based on Bis[4-(imidazol-1-yl)benzoate]cu(ii)

We are investigating the design of porous crystalline solids based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) composed of organic molecules and metal ions. MOFs derive their porosity by forming channels that permeate the crystal. As such, MOFs represent an important new class of functional materials that show fantastic potential for a range of applications that include storage of gases (e.g., hydrogen), delivery of drugs, catalysis of organic reactions, and molecular separations. To date, research on MOFs has focused primarily on using dicarboxylic acids as the organic component. Consequently, there is a need to explore organic ligands other than dicarboxylic acids in an effort to develop new MOFs that exhibit porous behavior. Toward that goal, we have prepared and investigated a novel MOF utilizing 4-(imidazol-1-yl)benzoic acid and Cu(II) ions. Here we report the synthesis, structure and porous properties of this system.