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Multicomponent crystallization is universally important in various research fields including materials science as well as biology and geology, and presents new opportunities in crystal engineering. This process includes multiple kinetic and thermodynamic events that compete with each other, wherein “external triggers” often help the system select appropriate pathways for constructing desired structures. Here we report an unprecedented finding that a lattice strain accumulated with the growth of a crystal serves as an “internal trigger” for pathway selection in multicomponent crystallization. We discovered a “spontaneous” crystal transition, where the kinetically preferred layered crystal, initially formed by excluding the pillar component, carries a single dislocation at its geometrical center. This crystal “spontaneously” liberates a core region to relieve the accumulated lattice strain around the dislocation. Consequently, the liberated part becomes dynamic and enables the pillar ligand to invade the crystalline lattice, thereby transforming into a thermodynamically preferred pillared-layer crystal.

Triplet carbenes (TCs) are of great interest due to their magnetic properties and reactivity, which descend from TCs’ unique electronic state. However, the reactivity and stability of TCs are usually a trade-off, and it is difficult to achieve both at the same time. In this work, we were able to enhance the thermal stability of a TCspecies while maintaining its reactivity by confining them in the nanospace of a metal–organic framework (MOF). We synthesized a new MOF using a TCprecursor; subsequently, TCs were generated by photostimulation. The TCs generated in the MOF nanospace were detectable up to 170 K, whereas their non-MOF-confined counterparts (bare ligand) could not be detected above 100 K. In addition, the reactivity of TCgenerated in MOF with O2was drastically improved compared to that of bare ligand. Our approach is generally applicable to the stabilization of highly reactive species, whose reactivity needs to be preserved.

A photochemically crushable and regenerative metal–organic framework (DTEMOF) was developed by complexation of photochromic ligand PyDTEopenand 5-nitroisophthalate (nip2–) with Cd2+in DMF/MeOH. DTEMOF([Cd(nip)(PyDTEopen)(H2O)(DMF)2]n) was obtained as colorless crystals. Its crystal structure revealed that DTEMOFadopts a tubular structure with interlocked coordination networks and can accommodate guest molecules in its one-dimensional pores. When DTEMOFsuspended in DMF/MeOH was exposed to UV light, its crystalline network, though thermally stable up to 260 °C, was readily crushed to afford a homogeneous blue-colored solution, via ring-closing isomerization of the constituent PyDTEopenligand into PyDTEclosed. Upon successive exposure of this solution to visible light, colorless MOF crystals identical to those of DTEMOFwere regenerated. Light-responsive DTEMOFenabled highly efficient on-demand guest release.

A layered metal–organic framework (MOF) comprising extra-large nanographene sheets, HBCMOF, was successfully synthesized using a dicarboxylic acid derivative of hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBCLH2), and its structure was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal structure shows that 2D layers composed of a dinuclear Zn2+complex unit and HBCL are located on top of each other through multiple weak interlayer bonds, affording HBCMOF, having three dimensionally connected nanopores with large nanographene surfaces. The HBC-based nanographene sheets are anchored to the MOF framework via two zinc carboxylate linkages and therefore have an axial rotational freedom. The sorption isotherms of gaseous molecules such as carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons (acetylene, propane, propylene, benzene, and cyclohexane) on HBCMOFall displayed a hysteretic profile with reversible structural changes, as observed by in situ powder X-ray diffraction studies.

A long-standing question in porphyrin chemistry is why pyrrole monomers selectively form tetrapyrrolic macrocycles, whereas the corresponding tripyrrolic macrocycles are never observed. Calix[3]pyrrole, a tripyrrolic porphyrinogen-like macrocycle bearing three sp3-carbon linkages, is a missing link molecule that might hold the key to this enigma; however, it has remained elusive. Here we report the synthesis and strain-induced transformations of calix[3]pyrrole and its furan analogue, calix[3]furan. These macrocycles are readily accessed from cyclic oligoketones. Crystallographic and theoretical analyses reveal that these three-subunit systems possess the largest strain energy among known calix[n]-type macrocycles. The ring-strain triggers transformation of calix[3]pyrrole into first calix[6]pyrrole and then calix[4]pyrrole under porphyrin cyclization conditions. The present results help explain the absence of naturally occurring three-pyrrole macrocycles and the fact that they are not observed as products or intermediate during classic porphyrin syntheses.

The layered structures of graphite and related nanographene molecules play key roles in their physical and electronic functions. However, the stacking modes of negatively curved nanographenes remain unclear, owing to the lack of suitable nanographene molecules. Herein, we report the synthesis and one-dimensional supramolecular self-assembly of negatively curved nanographenes without any assembly-assisting substituents. This curved nanographene self-assembles in various organic solvents and acts as an efficient gelator. The formation of nanofibers was confirmed by microscopic measurements, and an unprecedented double-helix assembly by continuous π–π stacking was uncovered by three-dimensional electron crystallography. This work not only reports the discovery of an all-sp2-carbon supramolecular π-organogelator with negative curvature but also demonstrates the power of three-dimensional electron crystallography for the structural determination of submicrometer-sized molecular alignment.