A review on synthesis, crystal structure and functionality of naphthalenedicarboxylate ligated metal-organic frameworks

For the past 20 years, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been appealing to the material scientists due to their unique properties and varied applications. MOFs are built using metal ions and selected organic ligands/linkers, viz. multidentate carboxylates, N-containing carboxylates, heterocyclic compounds, etc. The properties of naphthalenedicarboxylate (NDC) ligands, such as flexibility, viable coordination modes, bulkiness and good ligation nature to sequester metal ions in different orientations make them particularly attractive for the synthesis of MOFs. The two carboxylate groups present in the NDC ligand promote various coordination modes, which prompt diverse MOF structures with good porosity. The coordination of NDC ligands with metal ions, mostly Zn(II), Cd(II), Mn(II), Co(II), Ag(I) and lanthanides have created MOFs with different networks and topologies, with innovative applications in the fields of gas storage, gas separation, luminescence, catalysis, drug delivery and magnetism. The choice of precursors, the reaction environment including temperature, metal/ligand ratio, solvent, pH, can profoundly affect the architecture of MOFs and quantitatively influence their probable applications. The virtues of MOFs have led to their extensive adoption in varied fields. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the design and synthesis of various MOFs using NDC ligands and their probable applications.