The synthesis of porous materials known as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is high on the agenda for creating novel gas storage materials, for separation technology, and as catalysts. Part of the synthetic process involves post-synthetic modification (PSM), but this has limitations.

The approach adopted by a team from the Paul Scherrer Institute and ETH Zurich, both Switzerland, introduces chelating groups into metal-organic frameworks by vapor-phases post-synthetic modification. This not only gives higher yields in short reaction times, but also opens up greater flexibility in design than the standard PSM approach. It also allows production of single-atom active sites for catalytic applications.

_{Image: © Heulwen Price/Wiley-VCH}

• Fast and high yield post-synthetic modification of metal–organic frameworks by vapor diffusion,
  M. Servallia, M. Ranocchiari, J. A. Van Bokhoven,
  Chem. Commun. 2012.
  DOI: 10.1039/C2CC17461H