Templating metastable Pd2 carboxylate aggregates† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c8sc04940h

Evaluation of the potential for metal–metal (M–M) cooperation to enable catalysis requires access to specific polynuclear aggregates that display appropriate geometry and size. Here we demonstrate ion metathesis within pre-formed metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) to prepare metastable Pd2 tetracarboxylates sites.
Evaluation of the potential for metal–metal (M–M) cooperation to enable catalysis requires access to specific polynuclear aggregates that display appropriate geometry and size. In many cases, exerting synthetic control over the aggregation of simple metal salts is a challenge. For example, Pd(ii) acetate self assembles as a trimer (i.e. Pd3(OAc)6) both in the solid state and in solution and does not feature close Pd–Pd interactions. Related carboxylate-supported Pd2 aggregates (i.e. Pd2(OAc)4), which would feature close Pd–Pd interactions, are thermodynamically metastable in solution phase and thus largely unavailable. Here we demonstrate ion metathesis within pre-formed metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) to prepare metastable Pd2 tetracarboxylates sites. The newly synthesized materials are characterized by elemental analysis, PXRD, SCXRD, EXAFS, XANES, and gas adsorption analysis. In addition, the critical role of network solvation on the kinetics of ion metathesis was revealed by coupled TGA-MS and ICP-MS experiments. The demonstration of templated ion metathesis to generate specific metastable coordination sites that are inaccessible in solution phase chemistry represents a new opportunity to interrogate the chemistry of specific polynuclear metal aggregates.