Subtopic Deep Dive
Isoreticular Metal-Organic Frameworks
Research Guide
What is Isoreticular Metal-Organic Frameworks?
Isoreticular Metal-Organic Frameworks (IR-MOFs) are a series of MOFs that maintain identical underlying topologies while systematically varying organic linker lengths to expand pore sizes and tune functionalities.
IR-MOFs exemplify reticular synthesis by decoupling framework topology from pore metrics, enabling high surface areas exceeding 4000 m²/g (Chae et al., 2004, 2765 citations). Yaghi's group introduced IRMOF-0 alongside MOF-5 and others via room-temperature synthesis (Tranchemontagne et al., 2008, 1054 citations). Over 20,000 MOF structures have emerged from this approach (Furukawa et al., 2013, 15813 citations).
Why It Matters
IR-MOFs enable record-high porosity for gas storage, with IRMOF series accommodating large molecules like dyes (Chae et al., 2004). They support CO2 capture applications akin to zeolitic frameworks (Phan et al., 2009). Furukawa et al. (2013) highlight their role in energy storage and separation, underpinning scalable synthesis at room temperature (Tranchemontagne et al., 2008).
Key Research Challenges
Linker Length Stability
Extending linker lengths in IR-MOFs risks framework collapse under thermal or chemical stress (Schneemann et al., 2014). Flexible MOFs exhibit breathing effects that disrupt predictability (Schneemann et al., 2014, 2118 citations). Balancing expansion with mechanical robustness remains key (Furukawa et al., 2013).
Scalable Room-Temp Synthesis
Room-temperature methods yield IRMOF-0 but struggle with purity at scale (Tranchemontagne et al., 2008). Contaminants from solvent-free conditions limit yields (Tranchemontagne et al., 2008, 1054 citations). Optimization for industrial gas storage applications persists (Furukawa et al., 2013).
Pore Functionality Tuning
Incorporating functional groups while preserving topology alters selectivity for CO2 over N2 (Phan et al., 2009). Post-synthetic modification risks pore blockage (Chae et al., 2004). Achieving targeted adsorption isotherms demands precise ligand design (Furukawa et al., 2013).
Essential Papers
The Chemistry and Applications of Metal-Organic Frameworks
Hiroyasu Furukawa, Kyle E. Cordova, M. O’Keeffe et al. · 2013 · Science · 15.8K citations
Background Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are made by linking inorganic and organic units by strong bonds (reticular synthesis). The flexibility with which the constituents’ geometry, size, and fu...
A route to high surface area, porosity and inclusion of large molecules in crystals
Hee K. Chae, Diana Y. Siberio-Pérez, Jaheon Kim et al. · 2004 · Nature · 2.8K citations
Synthesis, Structure, and Carbon Dioxide Capture Properties of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks
Anh Phan, Christian J. Doonan, Fernando J. Uribe‐Romo et al. · 2009 · Accounts of Chemical Research · 2.6K citations
Zeolites are one of humanity's most important synthetic products. These aluminosilicate-based materials represent a large segment of the global economy. Indeed, the value of zeolites used in petrol...
Flexible metal–organic frameworks
Andreas Schneemann, Volodymyr Bon, Inke Schwedler et al. · 2014 · Chemical Society Reviews · 2.1K citations
Advances in flexible and functional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), also called soft porous crystals, are reviewed by covering the literature of the five years period 2009-2013 with reference to t...
A tunable azine covalent organic framework platform for visible light-induced hydrogen generation
Vijay S. Vyas, Frederik Haase, Linus Stegbauer et al. · 2015 · Nature Communications · 1.2K citations
Covalent organic framework photocatalysts: structures and applications
Han Wang, Hui Wang, Ziwei Wang et al. · 2020 · Chemical Society Reviews · 1.1K citations
This review summarises the recent advances of covalent organic framework photocatalysts including structures and applications.
The Current Status of MOF and COF Applications
Ralph Freund, Orysia Zaremba, Giel Arnauts et al. · 2021 · Angewandte Chemie International Edition · 1.1K citations
Abstract The amalgamation of different disciplines is at the heart of reticular chemistry and has broadened the boundaries of chemistry by opening up an infinite space of chemical composition, stru...
Reading Guide
Foundational Papers
Start with Furukawa et al. (2013, 15813 citations) for reticular synthesis overview; Chae et al. (2004, 2765 citations) for pore expansion proof; Tranchemontagne et al. (2008, 1054 citations) for practical synthesis of IRMOF-0.
Recent Advances
Schneemann et al. (2014, 2118 citations) on flexibility challenges; Freund et al. (2021, 1058 citations) for current applications status.
Core Methods
Reticular synthesis with variable dicarboxylate linkers (Furukawa et al., 2013); room-temperature coordination (Tranchemontagne et al., 2008); topology-preserving extension (Chae et al., 2004).
How PapersFlow Helps You Research Isoreticular Metal-Organic Frameworks
Discover & Search
Research Agent uses searchPapers('isoreticular MOFs linker variation') to retrieve Furukawa et al. (2013, 15813 citations), then citationGraph to map Yaghi's IR-MOF series including Chae et al. (2004) and Tranchemontagne et al. (2008); exaSearch uncovers niche linker stability papers.
Analyze & Verify
Analysis Agent applies readPaperContent on Chae et al. (2004) to extract surface area data, verifyResponse with CoVe against Furukawa et al. (2013) claims, and runPythonAnalysis to plot pore size distributions from supplementary tables using pandas; GRADE scores evidence strength for stability claims (Schneemann et al., 2014).
Synthesize & Write
Synthesis Agent detects gaps in room-temperature scalability from Tranchemontagne et al. (2008) vs. recent reviews; Writing Agent uses latexEditText for MOF topology diagrams, latexSyncCitations to integrate 10+ Yaghi papers, and latexCompile for publication-ready sections with exportMermaid for reticular synthesis flowcharts.
Use Cases
"Analyze pore size vs. linker length correlations in IR-MOFs from Yaghi papers"
Research Agent → searchPapers → Analysis Agent → runPythonAnalysis (pandas scatterplot of data from Chae et al. 2004 and Tranchemontagne et al. 2008) → matplotlib figure exported.
"Draft LaTeX review section on IRMOF synthesis for gas storage"
Synthesis Agent → gap detection → Writing Agent → latexEditText + latexSyncCitations (Furukawa 2013, Phan 2009) → latexCompile → PDF with topology diagram.
"Find open-source code for IR-MOF simulation from papers"
Research Agent → paperExtractUrls (Furukawa 2013 suppl.) → Code Discovery → paperFindGithubRepo → githubRepoInspect → verified LAMMPS scripts for pore volume calc.
Automated Workflows
Deep Research workflow scans 50+ Yaghi-cited papers via searchPapers → citationGraph on IR-MOFs → structured report with porosity metrics from Chae et al. (2004). DeepScan applies 7-step CoVe to verify linker stability claims (Schneemann et al., 2014) with GRADE checkpoints. Theorizer generates hypotheses on ultra-long linkers from Furukawa et al. (2013) topology principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines isoreticular MOFs?
IR-MOFs share the same topology but vary linker lengths for pore tuning, as in IRMOF-0 to -16 series (Chae et al., 2004; Tranchemontagne et al., 2008).
What synthesis methods apply to IR-MOFs?
Room-temperature solvothermal synthesis produces MOF-5, IRMOF-0 without heating (Tranchemontagne et al., 2008, 1054 citations); reticular chemistry links nodes precisely (Furukawa et al., 2013).
What are key papers on IR-MOFs?
Chae et al. (2004, Nature, 2765 citations) demonstrates high porosity; Furukawa et al. (2013, Science, 15813 citations) reviews applications; Tranchemontagne et al. (2008) covers synthesis.
What open problems exist in IR-MOFs?
Stability of extended linkers under flexing (Schneemann et al., 2014); scalable purity in room-temp methods (Tranchemontagne et al., 2008); functional group integration without blockage (Phan et al., 2009).
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