Guest-mediated phase transitions in a flexible pillared-layered metal-organic framework under high-pressure.

The guest-dependent flexibility of the pillared-layered metal-organic framework (MOF), Znbdcdabco·(guest), where guest = EtOH, DMF or benzene, has been examined by high-pressure single crystal X-ray diffraction. A pressure-induced structural phase transition is found for the EtOH- and DMF-included frameworks during compression in a hydrostatic medium of the guest species, which is dependent upon the nature and quantity of the guest in the channels. The EtOH-included material undergoes a phase transition from 4/ to 2/ at 0.