Intercalation of Coordinatively Unsaturated FeIII Ion within Interpenetrated Metal-Organic Framework MOF-5.

Coordinatively unsaturated Fe^III metal sites were successfully incorporated into the iconic MOF-5 framework. This new structure, Fe^III-iMOF-5, is the first example of an interpenetrated MOF linked through intercalated metal ions. Structural characterization was performed with single-crystal and powder XRD, followed by extensive analysis by spectroscopic methods and solid-state NMR, which reveals the paramagnetic ion through its interaction with the framework. EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopy confirmed that the intercalated ions were indeed Fe^III, whereas DFT calculations were employed to ascertain the unique pentacoordinate architecture around the Fe^III ion. Interestingly, this is also the first crystallographic evidence of pentacoordinate Zn^II within the MOF-5 SBU. This new MOF structure displays the potential for metal-site addition as a framework connector, thus creating further opportunity for the innovative development of new MOF materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]