Lanthanide, Y and Sc MOFs: where amazing crystal structures meet outstanding material properties

Data are presented and discussed on mechanistic studies of polymorph formation in lanthanide MOFs. The examples include dicarboxylic acids and di- and tetrasulfonic acids as ligands. An emphasis is made on topological analyses of the structures. The use of a dicarboxylic ligand with a bent geometry (H2hfipbb) allows for obtaining a new family of compounds with formula Ln2L3 in three polymorphic phases with unique topologies. In rare earth MOFs with sulfonic acids, the hydroxo-aggregates, having high connectivity degree, form secondary building units (SBU) in the construction of the polymeric frameworks. When these SBUs are joined through the sulfonate ligands, the extended networks with uncommon topologies are formed.