Metal–Organic Frameworks via Emissive Metal‐Carboxylate Zwitterion Intermediates

Abstract Pyridinemethanol‐carboxylate esters form octahedral complexes with Zn(NO3)2 in aqueous DMF that subsequently undergo hydrolysis at elevated temperatures to form metal‐carboxylate zwitterions. In situ deprotonation of the hydroxy group leads to thermally robust, neutral MOFs. This stepwise synthesis can be controlled by temperature and is made possible by the subtle difference in reactivity of the functional groups.