Science · Nature Chemistry, 2026
Editing a crystal without losing it
A temporary part of the framework, removed on demand while the crystal survives.
The question
If a temporary element helps a framework form, can it be taken out afterwards without destroying the crystal?
What was done
A general strategy for removing cSDAs after synthesis, single crystal to single crystal. One route, guided by the hard and soft acids and bases (HSAB) principle, uses acid to release cSDAs from robust frameworks. A milder route uses imidazole to substitute them within minutes.
What the paper reports
The strategy applies across several topologies (sod, nia-d and pop) and, for Cr-MOFs, gives pore volumes of up to 3.6 cm³ g⁻¹. The authors conclude that cSDAs act as temporary architectural elements, essential for forming the framework and removable on demand.
What remains open
How far the strategy extends beyond the topologies studied, and what the opened frameworks can do in separations or catalysis.
- Paper
- Sapianik, A.; Barsukova, M.; Shkurenko, A.; Bonneau, M.; Bhatt, P. M.; Shekhah, O.; Guillerm, V.; Eddaoudi, M. Single-crystal to single-crystal editing of metal–organic frameworks via ligand removal. Nat. Chem. 18, 994–1003 (2026).
- Credited
- Aleksander Sapianik, Marina Barsukova, Aleksander Shkurenko, Mickaele Bonneau, Prashant M. Bhatt, Osama Shekhah, Vincent Guillerm and Mohamed Eddaoudi.
- Link
- doi.org/10.1038/s41557-026-02135-4