Stable porphyrin Zr and Hf metal-organic frameworks featuring 2.5 nm cages: high surface areas, SCSC transformations and catalyses.

Two isostructural porphyrin Zr and Hf metal-organic frameworks ( and ) are rationally synthesized, and are constructed from 2.5 nm cubic cages. Notably, they both possess high water and chemical stability and can undergo single-crystal to single-crystal transformations to embed Cu ions into the open porphyrin rings. has a high BET surface area of 5033 m g. Additionally, they exhibit promising catalytic abilities to convert CO and epoxides into cyclic carbonates at ambient conditions.