Unconventional Fast Room Temperature Synthesis of Covalent Organic Framework Single Crystals Unveiling Precise Structural Insights

M Miguel Jiménez‐Duro (Departamento de Química Orgánica. Facultad de CC. Químicas Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n Madrid 28040 Spain) M Marcos Martínez‐Fernández (Institut für Organische Chemie und Makromolekulare Chemie, Heinrich‐Heine‐Universität Düsseldorf Universitätsstraße 1 40225 Düsseldorf Germany) J Jorge J. Cabrera‐Trujillo (Departamento de Química Orgánica Universidad de La Laguna Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, s/n La Laguna Tenerife 38206 Spain) E Eva Osuna (Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid 28049 Spain) M Miguel Fernández‐Ramos Humanes (Departamento de Química Orgánica. Facultad de CC. Químicas Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n Madrid 28040 Spain) C Cristina Gómez‐Navarro (Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid 28049 Spain) J Julio Gómez‐Herrero (Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid 28049 Spain) F Félix Zamora (Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) J José L. Segura (Departamento de Química Orgánica. Facultad de CC. Químicas Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n Madrid 28040 Spain)

Abstract

Abstract Two‐dimensional covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a special kind of crystalline polymers produced by the polycondensation reaction of organic linkers. However, the polymerization is often uncontrolled and conventionally yields polycrystalline powders. For that reason, the development of new methods to obtain single‐crystalline COFs is an urgent need. Herein, we report a modulated, room‐temperature, and fast synthesis of a highly fluorinated COF where the reaction conditions were systematically analyzed to yield single‐crystalline rods of around three microns. The increase in crystal size enabled the analysis of precise structural features such as the mechanical properties or the different aggregation states of the bidimensional framework. In addition, the reaction mechanism was computationally elucidated, and the roles of the modulator agent and the catalyst were analyzed, confirming the critical importance of trifluoroacetic acid and 2,3,5,6‐tetrafluoroaniline in modulating Schiff base bond formation and, consequently, the crystallinity of the resulting COF. This study reveals new insights into the crystallization of high‐quality 2D COFs.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 37
Published September 08, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

M

Miguel Jiménez‐Duro

Departamento de Química Orgánica. Facultad de CC. Químicas Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n Madrid 28040 Spain

M

Marcos Martínez‐Fernández

Institut für Organische Chemie und Makromolekulare Chemie, Heinrich‐Heine‐Universität Düsseldorf Universitätsstraße 1 40225 Düsseldorf Germany

J

Jorge J. Cabrera‐Trujillo

Departamento de Química Orgánica Universidad de La Laguna Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, s/n La Laguna Tenerife 38206 Spain

E

Eva Osuna

Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid 28049 Spain

M

Miguel Fernández‐Ramos Humanes

Departamento de Química Orgánica. Facultad de CC. Químicas Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n Madrid 28040 Spain

C

Cristina Gómez‐Navarro

Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid 28049 Spain

J

Julio Gómez‐Herrero

Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid 28049 Spain

F

Félix Zamora

Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

J

José L. Segura

Departamento de Química Orgánica. Facultad de CC. Químicas Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n Madrid 28040 Spain