One-Pot, Room-Temperature Conversion of CO 2 into Porous Metal–Organic Frameworks

The conversion of CO 2 into functional materials under ambient conditions is a major challenge to realize a carbon-neutral society. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been extensively studied as designable porous materials. Despite the fact that CO 2 is an attractive renewable resource, the synthesis of MOFs from CO 2 remains unexplored. Chemical inertness of CO 2 has hampered its conversion into typical MOF linkers such as carboxylates without high energy reactants and/or harsh conditions. Here, we present a one-pot conversion of CO 2 into highly porous crystalline MOFs at ambient temperature and pressure. Cubic [Zn 4 O(piperazine dicarbamate) 3 ] is synthesized via in situ formation of bridging dicarbamate linkers from piperazines and CO 2 and shows high surface areas (∼2366 m 2 g –1 ) and CO 2 contents (>30 wt %). Whereas the dicarbamate linkers are thermodynamically unstable by themselves and readily release CO 2, the formation of an extended coordination network in the MOF lattices stabilizes the linker enough to demonstrate stable permanent porosity.