Exploring flexibility of the new Mn(III)-based MOF

This proposal aims to solve the structure of a series of new Mn(III)-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with a flexible structure, as well as investigating their guest sorption properties. The series of new MOFs is related to the well-known MIL-53, which possesses a breathing behaviour. The originality of our series of MOFs, apart from the fact that it is based on Mn(III) metal centres, is that it has alkoxy bridging linkers. It is known that both, the nature of the metal centres and of the bridging linkers have an important influence on the breathing behaviour of MIL-53. We aim at solving the structure of several of those MOFs with linkers of various sizes (EtO-, PrO-, etc.) with the help of variable-temperature X-ray synchrotron radiation diffraction experiments; collecting very good quality diffraction data is mandatory. Furthermore, adsorption of guests and possible flexibility of the structure of the new MOFs will be investigated with respect to various solvents and gasses.