Two-dimensional amine and hydroxy functionalized fused aromatic covalent organic framework

• Published in: Communications chemistry Vol. 3; no. 1; p. 31
• Main Authors: Mahmood, Javeed, Ahmad, Ishfaq, Jung, Minbok, Seo, Jeong-Min, Yu, Soo-Young, Noh, Hyuk-Jun, Kim, Young Hyun, Shin, Hyung-Joon, Baek, Jong-Beom
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 06.03.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/301/357; 639/301/357/1018; 639/638/298; Aromatic compounds; Bonding strength; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Covalence; Covalent bonds; Crystal structure; Crystallinity; Diffraction patterns; Dimensional stability; Error correction; Functional groups; Physiochemistry; Scanning tunneling microscopy
• ISSN: 2399-3669; 2399-3669
• DOI: 10.1038/s42004-020-0278-1

Ordered two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have generally been synthesized using reversible reactions. It has been difficult to synthesize a similar degree of ordered COFs using irreversible reactions. Developing COFs with a fused aromatic ring system via an irreversible reaction is highly desirable but has remained a significant challenge. Here we demonstrate a COF that can be synthesized from organic building blocks via irreversible condensation (aromatization). The as-synthesized robust fused aromatic COF (F-COF) exhibits high crystallinity. Its lattice structure is characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray diffraction pattern. Because of its fused aromatic ring system, the F-COF structure possesses high physiochemical stability, due to the absence of hydrolysable weak covalent bonds. Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) are commonly synthesised through dynamic covalent chemistry, as it allows for thermodynamic ‘error correction' which enhances crystallinity. Here a crystalline 2D COF with amine and hydroxyl functional groups within the pores is synthesised through kinetically-controlled reactions.