Ligand-directed reticular synthesis of metal-organic frameworks having edge-transitive ALB network topologies

A method of making a metal-organic framework comprising M6 nodes connected by organic linkers, where M is a metal and the organic linkers comprise extended triptycene groups, the metal-organic framework having a 6,12-coordinated alb (aluminum diboride, hexagonal-prism and trigonal prism) network topology, the method comprising:

• dissolving a metal salt, at least one peripherally extended triptycene ligand, and an acid in a solvent to form a solution;
• and
• heating the solution to induce crystallization of the metal-organic framework from the metal salt and the peripherally extended triptycene ligand.

A method of hydrolyzing a molecule, the method comprising exposing the molecule to a metal-organic framework having a 6,12-coordinated alb (aluminum diboride, hexagonal-prism and trigonal prism) network topology in the presence of water, the metal-organic framework comprising M6 nodes connected by organic linkers, where M is a metal, the M6 nodes have Lewis acidic sites, and the organic linkers comprise extended triptycene groups, wherein the metal-organic framework catalyzes the hydrolysis of a bond in the molecule.