A series of isostructural mesoporous metal-organic frameworks obtained by ion-exchange induced single-crystal to single-crystal transformation.

A series of metal-organic frameworks representing a non-interpenetrated framework analogue of MOF-14 have been synthesized by using two different linkers, 4,4',4''-benzene-1,3,5-triyl-benzoic acid (H(3)BTB) and 4,4'-bipyridine (Bpy). Interestingly, the transition metal ions in the paddle-wheel metal clusters could be exchanged by other transition metal ions via a direct single-crystal to single-crystal transformation. This post-synthesis route can be used for synthesis of isomorphous metal-organic frameworks that cannot be obtained by direct synthesis.