Tuning the Hydrophobicity of Zinc Dipyridyl Paddlewheel Metal–Organic Frameworks for Selective Sorption

A series of isostructural noncatenated, water-stable zinc-based dipyridyl pillared-paddlewheel metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) was synthesized with tunable pore hydrophobicity. Pore hydrophobicity was engendered through dipyridyl ligands decorated with alkyl chains of varying length (methyl to hexyl). The most hydrophobic MOFs exhibited selective sorption of ethanol over water.