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Complex Metal–Organic Frameworks from Symmetrically Backfolded Dendrimers
Author(s) -
Yang Chen,
Wong YanLung,
Xiao Ran,
Zeller Matthias,
Hunter Allen D.,
Yiu ShekMan,
Xu Zhengtao
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.201601089
Subject(s) - dendrimer , sierpinski triangle , topology (electrical circuits) , bent molecular geometry , molecule , network topology , materials science , crystallography , physics , computer science , nanotechnology , chemistry , combinatorics , mathematics , polymer chemistry , composite material , fractal , computer network , quantum mechanics , mathematical analysis
We study symmetrically backfolded building blocks (Sierpinski dendrimers) that generate metal‐organic frameworks featuring graphitic ribbons, free‐standing carboxylic functions and intricate topologies in clear correspondence with molecular structures. Unlike the starburst shape of traditional dendrimers, the Sierpinski dendrimer features side branches bent away (e. g., by 120°) from the outward direction of the main branch. This paper reports a systematic attempt to correlate the backfolded shape with the connectivity (topology) of the resultant network. Our discovery is surprisingly simple: as building blocks for extended nets, the backfolded Sierpinski dendrimer behaves as a collection of subsidiary building units of the conventional starburst shape (e. g., the regular tritopic unit); and the resultant networks can be deconstructed into subnets corresponding to the star‐shaped subunits of the molecule. These seemingly exotic and highly branched molecules are not only compatible with the purpose of network construction, but also present fundamentally new features that open new horizons for molecular design.