Isoreticular series of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks with the kgd topology and controllable micropores

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic frameworks (COFs) possess designable pore architectures but limited framework topologies. Until now, 2D COFs adopting the kgd topology with ordered and rhombic pore geometry have rarely been reported. Here, an isoreticular series of 2D COFs with the kgd topology and controllable pore size is synthesized by employing a C6-symmetric aldehyde, i.e., hexa(4-formylphenyl)benzene (HFPB), and C3-symmetric amines i.e., tris(4-aminophenyl)amine (TAPA), tris(4-aminophenyl)trazine (TAPT), and 1,3,5-tris[4-amino(1,1-biphenyl-4-yl)]benzene (TABPB), as building units, referred to as HFPB-TAPA, HFPB-TAPT, and HFPB-TABPB, respectively. The micropore dimension down to 6.7 Å is achieved in HFPB-TAPA, which is among the smallest pore size of reported 2D COFs. Impressively, both the in-plane network and stacking sequence of the 2D COFs can be clearly observed by low-dose electron microscopy. Integrating the unique kgd topology with small rhombic micropores, these 2D COFs are endowed with both short molecular diffusion length and favorable host-guest interaction, exhibiting potential for drug delivery with high loading and good release control of ibuprofen.