3D Covalent Organic Frameworks with Interpenetrated pcb Topology Based on 8-Connected Cubic Nodes

The connectivity of building units for 3D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) has long been primarily 4 and 6, which have severely curtailed the structural diversity of 3D COFs. Here we demonstrate the successful design and synthesis of a porphyrin based, 8-connected building block with cubic configuration, which could be further reticulated into an unprecedented interpenetrated pcb topology by imine condensation with linear amine monomers. This study presents the first case of high-connectivity building units bearing 8-connected cubic nodes, thus greatly enriching the topological possibilities of 3D COFs.