Direct Evidence for Single-Crystal to Single-Crystal Switching of Degree of Interpenetration in a Metal–Organic Framework

A known doubly interpenetrated metal–organic
framework with
the formula [Zn2(ndc)2(bpy)] possesses minimal
porosity when activated. We show not only that the material converts
to its triply interpenetrated analogue upon desolvation, but also
that the transformation occurs in a single-crystal to single-crystal
manner under ambient conditions. The mechanism proposed for the conversion
is supported by computational methods and by analogy with the solid-state
behavior of an analogous system.