Mechanochemical synthesis of an yttrium based metal–organic framework

For the first time a metal hydride has been used for the preparation of a metal-organic framework. MIL-78 has been synthesized by the solid-state mechanochemical reaction between yttrium hydride and trimesic acid. The process does not involve solvents and does not generate liquid by-products, thus proving the viability of the solid-state approach to the synthesis of MOFs.