Hydrolytic conversion of a metal-organic polyhedron into a metal-organic framework.

Twist and release: The metal-organic polyhedron 1 synthesized from 5-(prop-2-ynyloxy)isophthalic acid and Cu(NO3 )2 ⋅ 3 H2 O has a hydrophobic outer surface and a hydrophilic inner core. In an aqueous medium, the resulting polarity gradient led to the transformation of 1 into the 2D metal-organic framework 2. This unique phenomenon enabled the gradual release of entrapped drug molecules.