Coordinative Alignment Of Molecules In Chiral Metal Organic Frameworks

Single-crystal x-ray diffraction is a powerful technique for the definitive identification of chemical structures. Although most molecules and molecular complexes can be crystallized, often enthalpic and entropic factors introduce orientational disorder that prevent determination of a high-resolution structure. Several strategies based on the inclusion of guests in a host framework that helps maintain molecular orientation have been used to overcome this challenge. However, most of these methods rely primarily on weak interactions to induce crystalline order of the included molecules. Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed a strategy for crystallization of molecules within the pores of chiral metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) using coordinative bonding, which includes covalent and ionic bonds, and/or using chirality. Laleh Shayesteh lalehs@berkeley.edu 510-642-4537