Organization and Energy Transfer of Fused Aromatic Hydrocarbon Guests within Anion-Confining Nanochannel MOFs

The self-assembly of Zn^II ions with 1,3,5-tris(isonicotinoyloxyethyl)cyanurate produces new topological (4²12⁴)₃(4³)₄ 2D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with anion-confining cages. The eclipsed assembly of each 2D MOF by π-π stacking of cyanurate moieties (3.352(5) Å) forms 3D MOFs consisting of nanochannels (10.5 Å). Two of the three anions are confined in each peanut-type cage, resulting in hydrophobicity of the nanochannels. The hydrophobic nanochannel effectively adsorbs a wide range of fused aromatic hydrocarbons (FAHs) as monomers or dimers, rendering it potentially highly useful as an energy-transfer material. Slotted into place: The direct inclusion and organization of fused aromatic hydrocarbons (FAHs) within the hydrophobic 1D nanochannels of 3D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) [Zn₃L₄(CH₃CN)₆](X)₆ (L=1,3,5-tris(isonicotinoyloxyethyl)cyanurate; X^-=BF₄^- and ClO₄^-) is reported. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) with the nanochannels from one FAH derivative to another is described.