Two new 3D metal-organic frameworks of nanoscale cages constructed by Cd(II) and conformationally-flexible cyclohexanehexacarboxylate.

Hydrothermal reactions of Cd(NO3)2.4H2O with a,e,a,e,a,e-1,2,3,4,5,6-cyclohexanehexacarboxylic acid (H6L(I)) generate two new 3D MOFs with nanoscale cages, in which the L(I) ligand in the first MOF transforms its conformation to the e,e,e,e,e,e form while the L(I) ligand in the second MOF transforms its conformation to mixed e,e,e,e,e,e and e,e,e,e,a,a forms in a 1 : 3 ratio, showing the effect of the auxiliary sodium ion on stabilizing the intermediate conformations and on the construction of the heterometallic MOF structure.