Tubular Nanostructures from Large-Pore 2D Covalent Organic Frameworks.

The synthesis of a wavy mesoporous 2D covalent organic framework (COF) with a 6-nm hexagonal pore lattice (Joa-COF-1) is reported. This has been achieved by the synthesis of a terpyrenyl linker of approximately 2.7 nm in length and its subsequent condensation with a 3-connected non-planar cata-hexabenzocoronene. Joa-COF-1 exists as non-covalent tubular domains composed of π-stacked 4 to 5 pores in 2D COF sections that can be separated by mild sonication, resulting in a family of tubular COF nanostructures that combine a 1D morphology with accessible mesopores.