Synthesis and Characterization of a Praseodymium–Adipate Framework Templated with 1,2-bis(4-Pyridyl)ethane: Host–Guest Interactions and Structural Survey

Abstract

A new templated metal–organic framework has been synthesized and characterized: [Pr2(C6H8O4)3(H2O)2]·(C12H12N2). This structure represents the completion of a series of lanthanide–adipate metal–organic framework materials that have been templated with 4,4′-bipyridine-derived template molecules. Host–guest interactions have been qualitatively analyzed within this system along with previously templated systems. On the basis of these observations, a series of guidelines have been established to predict template occlusion. These guidelines include hard–soft acid–base considerations, hydrophobic–hydrophilic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and geometric considerations. These criteria may aide in the future utilization of templates in the topological control of metal–organic frameworks.