(10,3)-a Noninterpenetrated Network Built from a Piedfort Ligand Pair

The Friedel−Crafts reaction of cyameluric chloride with toluene
and subsequent oxidation have resulted in the synthesis of a
benzoic acid functionalized tri-s-triazine derivative, s-heptazine
tribenzoate (HTB). Photoluminescence and mass spectroscopy data
indicate that, in solution, HTB molecules interact by face-to-face
π−π stacking, forming dimers (the “Piedfort unit”). A porous metal−organic framework (MOF) with a (10,3)-a chiral network has been
synthesized with these dimers at the three-connected nodes linking
trinuclear zinc clusters. Within the network, the dimer can exist in
either of two enantiomeric forms because of an angular offset in
the stacking. The resulting MOF is neutral and noninterpenetrated
and exhibits a high solvent-accessible volume (calculated 84%).