In situ conversion of a MOG to a crystalline MOF: a case study on solvent-dependent gelation and crystallization

Herein, we report in situ transformation of a metal-organic gel (MOG) to a crystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) and solvent-dependent gelation/crystallization via solvothermal reactions of a tetracarboxylic acid, namely 4,4'-dinitro-2,2',6,6'-tetracarboxybiphenyl, and ZnSO4. The results provide structural insights into MOGs at the molecular level and also help in the synthesis of crystalline MOFs that are otherwise difficult to obtain.