Two similar molecular building blocks, which both contain a hydrogen-bonded nitro group, have been prepared and crystallised. One structure has more flexibility with a butyl side chain which allows an open framework organic zeolite to form with large 10 Å diameter pores, whereas the other structure has less flexibility with an aryl side chain and is close packed. The pore size is comparable with those of the aluminophosphate VPI-5 (12 Å). It is concluded that some flexibility in the design of the building block for porous organic molecular materials was beneficial.
Keywords: crystal engineering; hydrogen bonds; organic zeolites; supramolecular chemistry.