Fluoro-Bridged Clusters in Rare-Earth Metal–Organic Frameworks

Abstract

The modulator 2-fluorobenzoic acid (2-fba) is widely used to prepare RE clusters in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). In contrast to known RE MOF structures containing hydroxide bridging groups, we report for the first time the possible presence of fluoro bridging groups in RE MOFs. In this report we discuss the synthesis of a holmium-UiO-66 analogue as well as a novel holmium MOF, where evidence of fluorinated clusters is observed. The mechanism of fluorine extraction from 2-fba is discussed as well as the implications that these results have for previously reported RE MOF structures.