On-Demand Degradation of Metal–Organic Framework Based on Photocleavable Dianthracene-Based Ligand

We have designed a rigid photocleavable dianthracene-based ligand that reacts with ytterbium as coordination metal ion for the creation of a class of tridimensional light-degradable metal–organic framework (MOF). We demonstrated that we can obtain a high level of control on the disassembly of the MOF formed with this ligand which can be triggered either through light irradiation or temperature increase. The reversible 4π-4π photodimerization is the intrinsic chemical mechanism ruling the ligand and MOF cleavage. In the fields of biology and medicine, MOFs have sparked a strong interest as highly porous vehicles for drug release but have only been explored so far through the passive leakage of their payloads. The designed light-degradable MOFs can potentially overcome this limitation and serve as prototypes for drug delivery and corresponding therapeutic applications.