A direct reaction approach for the synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks: template and temperature mediated control on network topology and crystal sizeElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Synthesis and characterization of the prepared samples, XRPD experiments, SEM images, single X-ray crystal structure of compound {[Co(Im)2]·(H2O)2.5·(4mpy)0.2}n, N2 adsorption isotherms. CCDC 889588. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c2

• Main Authors: Lanchas, Mónica, Vallejo-Sánchez, Daniel, Beobide, Garikoitz, Castillo, Oscar, Aguayo, Andrés T, Luque, Antonio, Román, Pascual
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1359-7345; 1364-548X
• DOI: 10.1039/c2cc34787c

The direct acid-base reaction between ZnO/CoO/Co(OH) 2 and imidazolic ligands under moderate heating (100-160 °C), in a closed vessel, leads to the generation of the corresponding zinc/cobalt-imidazolates in a high yield (87-97%) in which network topology is controlled by the addition of small amounts of structure directing agents. Moreover, the fine tuning of the thermal process at the synthetic stage permits us to increase the crystal size, and even to grow X-ray quality single crystals. Direct reaction between ZnO/CoO/Co(OH) 2 and imidazolic ligands allows us to produce highly crystalline samples and single crystals of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks with topology directed by the addition of template molecules.