6533b861fe1ef96bd12c4c3d

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Crystallographic snapshots of host–guest interactions in drugs@metal–organic frameworks: towards mimicking molecular recognition processes

Emilio PardoDonatella ArmentanoLucia BartellaJesús Ferrando-soriaMarcello MaggioliniRosamaria LappanoLeonardo Di DonnaMarianna TaliaRosaria BrunoMarta Mon

subject

010405 organic chemistryChemistryProcess Chemistry and TechnologySupramolecular chemistrymacromolecular substances010402 general chemistryAscorbic acid01 natural sciences0104 chemical sciencesOrganic moleculesCrystallographyMolecular recognitionMechanics of MaterialsMoleculeGeneral Materials ScienceMetal-organic frameworkElectrical and Electronic Engineering

description

We report a novel metal–organic framework (MOF) featuring functional pores decorated with hydroxyl groups derived from the natural amino acid L-serine, which is able to establish specific interactions of different natures, strengths and directionalities with organic molecules of technological interest, i.e. ascorbic acid, pyridoxine, bupropion and 17-β-estradiol, based on their different sizes and chemical natures. The ability of 1 to distinctly organize guest molecules within its channels, through the concomitant effect of different directing supramolecular host–guest interactions, enables gaining unique insights, by means of single-crystal X-ray crystallography, into the host–guest interactions. These results increase our understanding of molecular recognition processes in MOFs, opening a myriad of potential technological applications in the near future.

https://doi.org/10.1039/c8mh00302e