Solution-Mediated Transformation of a 1D [Zn(Im)(HIm)2(OAc)] Precursor to Several Different 3D Zn(Im)2 Frameworks

1D compound [Zn(Im)(HIm) 2 (OAc)] was used as a single precursor of metal and imidazole to prepare several 3-dimensional (3D) Zn(Im) 2 frameworks by solution-mediated transformation. Specifically, three known topologies, zni, coi and crb (BCT) were obtained using a solution-mediated transformation with CH 3 OH, DMF and DMA as solvent, respectively. Structural studies by 13 C MAS NMR spectroscopy and TG imply that in the transformation process from 1D compound to coi-[Zn(Im) 2 ]•(DMF) x and crb-[Zn(Im) 2 ]•(DMA) x (ZIF-1), DMF and DMA solvent molecules acted as structure-directing agent and, therefore, were occluded inside the framework, respectively. In contrast, in the formation of zni-[Zn(Im) 2 ], no solvent molecules were present in the frameworks; therefore the transformation from 1D compound to zni was induced by temperature. Thus, solution-mediated transformation of a single precursor (1D compound) approach was established for the synthesis of ZIFs.