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Research was conducted to examine the porosity and the catalytic performance of dialkoxyzirconium polyphenoxide as a functional organic zeolite analogue. The Zr host has permanent pores that are capable of reversible guest binding and is more catalytically active than its precursors. Its amorphous nature prevents further structural elucidation but analytical techniques for porous inorganic materials can be used to allow insight into its porosity.

Anthracenebisresorcinol derivative 1 as an organic network material exhibits a unique catalysis in the solid state for the acrolein-cyclohexadiene Diels-Alder reaction. The proposed mechanism involves a catalytic cycle composed of sorption of the reactants in the cavities of polycrystalline host 1, preorganized intracavity reaction and desorption of the product. The host also promotes stereoselective intracavity reactions for alkyl acrylates and cyclohexadiene but not in a catalytic manner.

The crystal structures of several adducts of the bis(resorcino) and bis(pyrimidine) complexes of anthracene of anthraquinone as orthogonal aromatic triads were determined. The results showed the formation of segregated and partially overlapped columns for anthracene and anthraquinone. These columns were constructed via self-assembly of hydrogen-bonded one-dimensional or two-dimensional networks.

The orthogonal anthracene-bis(resorcinol) tetraol can create, as a host, a hydrogen-bonded network that incorporates a molecular sheet with supramolecular cavities filled with two molecules of a recrystallization solvent as guests. Guest-binding to apohost restores single-crystal structures with filled cavities. The apohost of an orthogonal aromatic-triad tetraol may be considered as a functional organic analogue of zeolites.

The immobilization of Lewis acid complexes was accomplished using a hydrogen-bonded organic supporting network. The metal-organic solid obtained had vacant coordination sites and potential internal cavities. It also showed faster mole-dependent turnover rate compared to the corresponding soluble. Separation of the solid from the product was also accomplished faster. The results indicated a potential application of the catalysts in fine organic synthesis.