The synthesis and characterization of an isomorphous series of copper-containing microporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on triazolyl isophthalate linkers with the general formula [Cu₄(μ₃-OH)₂(R¹-R²-trz-ia)₃(H₂O)x] are presented. Through size adjustment of the alkyl substituents R¹ and/or R² at the linker, the impact of linker functionalization on structure-property relationships was studied. Due to the arrangement of the substituents towards the cavities, the porosity (pore fraction 28%-39%), as well as the pore size can be adjusted by the size of the substituents of the triazole ring. Thermal analysis and temperature-dependent PXRD studies reveal a thermal stability of the MOFs up to 230 °C due to increasing framework stability through fine-tuning of the linker substitution pattern. Adsorption of CO₂ (298 K) shows a decreasing maximum loading with increasing steric demand of the substituents of the triazole ring. Furthermore, the selective oxidation of cyclohexene with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) is studied over the MOFs at 323 K in liquid chloroform. The catalytic activity increases with the steric demand of the substituents. Additionally, these isomorphous MOFs exhibit considerable robustness under oxidizing conditions confirmed by CO₂ adsorption studies, as well as by the catalytic selective oxidation experiments.
Keywords: crystal structures; cyclohexene oxidation; heterogeneous catalysis; linker substitution pattern; structure-property relationship; triazolyl isophthalate MOFs.