Controlled Condensation Reaction of an Immobilized Bis(hydroxymethyl)arene and Mobile Phenols in Metal-Organic Frameworks

We report a Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation between immobilized bis(hydroxymethyl)arenes in MOFs and mobile electron-rich arenes. Reactivity is controlled by guest concentration: high concentrations yield mono-substitution (post-synthetic modification), while low concentrations promote condensation polymerization via local concentration effects within the MOF pores.