Cobalt(II) metal–organic framework micro-nanoparticles: Molecular self-assembly from layers to micropores showing the conjunctive orientation of carboxyl groups

•Cobalt metal–organic frameworks were assembled in a MeOH–H2O solvent system.•MOFs’ structures exhibited from layers to micropores.•N-ligand can regulate and control the conjunctive orientation of carboxyl groups.•MOFs’ micro-nanoparticles were investigated.

Cobalt metal–organic framework (MOF) materials CoL(1,4-chdc)·mH2O (1,4-chdc = 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, L1 = 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene, and m = 0 for 1Co; L2 = 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene and m = 2 for 2Co) were assembled in a MeOH–H2O solvent system. They crystallized in a monoclinic system with space group P2(1)/c, Z = 4, a = 9.479(4) Å, b = 13.704(6) Å, c = 14.455(6) Å, and β = 99.424(6)° for 1Co, and a = 14.349(11) Å, b = 12.088(9) Å, c = 26.62(2) Å, and β = 97.255(11)° for 2Co. It was shown that N-ligand can regulate and control the conjunctive orientation of carboxyl groups in these MOFs; thus, the MOFs exhibited structures that ranged from layers to micropores. Furthermore, the micro-nanoparticles of 1Co and 2Co were investigated for new potential applications of micro-nano MOFs.

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