Solvent-Dependent Formation of Three New Bi-Metal–Organic Frameworks Using a Tetracarboxylic Acid

Systematic solvent screening using high-throughput solvothermal syntheses with bismuth nitrate pentahydrate and 1,2,4,5-tetrakis-(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (H4TCPB) led to three new porous Bi-metal-organic frameworks [Bi-2(H2TCPB)(TCPB)(H2O)(2)]center dot xH(2)O (CAU-31), (NH2(CH3)(2) [Bi(TCPB)(H2O)]center dot xH(2)O (CAU-32), and [Bi-4(O)(2)(OH)(2)(H2TCPB)(TCPB)(H2O)(2)]center dot xH(2)O (CAU-33). Compounds CAU-31, -32, and -33 were synthesized in CH3OH, CH3OH/DMF, and DMF/toluene, respectively. The crystal structures were determined using electron diffraction and single-crystal X-ray diffraction in combination with the Rietveld method. The structures of CAU-31 and CAU-32 are composed of isolated Bi3+ ions as the inorganic building unit (IBU), which are connected by the linker ions to form a layered structure with inclined interpenetration and a three-dimensional anionic network, respectively. The IBU of CAU-33 consists of infinite bismuth-oxo rods forming a three-dimensional network by connection of the organic linkers. For CAU-33 structural flexibility was observed, and two phases denoted alpha- and beta-CAU-33 could be isolated.