Author: José Navarro-sánchez

Peptide Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enantioselective Separation of Chiral Drugs

We report the ability of a chiral Cu(II) 3D MOF based on the tripeptide Gly-L-His-Gly (GHG) for the enantioselective separation of metamphetamine and ephedrine. Monte Carlo simulations suggest that chiral recognition is linked to preferential binding of one of the enantiomers as result of either stronger or additional H-bonds with the framework that lead to energetically more stable diastereomeric adducts. Solid phase extraction (SPE) of a racemic mixture by using Cu(GHG) as extractive phase permits isolating more than 50% of the (+)-ephedrine enantiomer as target compound in only four minutes. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first example of a MOF capable of separating ch…

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Peptide metal-organic frameworks under pressure: flexible linkers for cooperative compression

We investigate the structural response of a dense peptide metal-organic framework using in situ powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction under high-pressures. Crystals of Zn(GlyTyr)2 show a reversible compression by 13% in volume at 4 GPa that is facilitated by the ability of the peptidic linker to act as a flexible string for a cooperative response of the structure to strain. This structural transformation is controlled by changes to the conformation of the peptide, which enables a bond rearrangement in the coordination sphere of the metal and changes to the strength and directionality of the supramolecular interactions specific to the side chain groups in the dipeptide sequence. Compar…

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Translocation of enzymes into a mesoporous MOF for enhanced catalytic activity under extreme conditions

Translocation of protease into mesoporous MIL-101-NH2 results in enhanced catalytic activity, excellent recyclability and tolerance to competing enzymes.

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Bottom‐Up Fabrication of Semiconductive Metal-Organic Framework Ultrathin Films

Though generally considered insulating, recent progress on the discovery of conductive porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offers new opportunities for their integration as electroactive components in electronic devices. Compared to classical semiconductors, these metal-organic hybrids combine the crystallinity of inorganic materials with easier chemical functionalization and processability. Still, future development depends on the ability to produce high-quality films with fine control over their orientation, crystallinity, homogeneity, and thickness. Here self-assembled monolayer substrate modification and bottom-up techniques are used to produce preferentially oriented, ultrathin, con…

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