Ordered macro-microporous metal-organic framework single crystals

Mesoporous metal-organic frameworks The diffusion limitations on gas storage and catalytic reaction of microporous materials can often be overcome if they are incorporated into a mesoporous structure with much larger pores. Shen et al. grew ordered arrays of microcrystals of the ZIF-8 metal-organic framework, in which zinc ions are bridged by 2-methylimidazole linkers, inside a porous polystyrene template. These materials showed higher reaction rates for the Knoevenagel reaction between benzaldehydes and malononitriles and better catalyst recyclability. Science , this issue p. 206