Metal organic framework compounds have emerged as an important part of inorganic coordination chemistry during the last two decades. In this thesis, the metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) compounds of 5-substituted isophthalic acids have been investigated. As part of the investigations, preparation of MOF compounds of different 5-substituted isophthalic acids such as 5-aminoisophthalaic acid, 5-nitroisophthalaic acid and 5-sulphoisophthalaic acid have been accomplished. Structures of the newly synthesized compounds were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Magnetic properties of the transition metal based compounds have been studied by SQUID/PPMS magnetometer. The ligand-sensitized metal-center emission has been studied on the Eu3+ and Tb3+ doped MOF compounds of Y and La. Up-conversion luminescence properties of Nd based compound have also been studied. The labile nature of the coordinated and lattice water molecules was established by employing dynamic in-situ single crystal to single crystal structural transformation studies. In addition, the site selective substitution in homometallic MOF compounds and their subsequent thermal decomposition to mixed-metal spinel oxides have also been investigated. In Chapter 1 of the thesis an overview of the metal-organic framework compounds is presented. In Chapter 2, the synthesis, structure and properties of 5-aminoisophthalate compounds of 3d metals and the rare earth metals are presented. In some of these compounds the coordinate and the lattice water molecules can be removed and reinserted with the retention of single crystallinity. Also some of the isostructural compounds exhibits interesting magnetic behaviors. Partial substitution of the Y3+/La3+ compounds of 5-aminoisophthalate with Eu3+/Tb3+ exhibits characteristics metal centered emission (red = Eu3+ and green = Tb3+). In Chapter 3, the three dimensional compounds of 5-nitroisophthalate and 4, 4’-oxybisbenzoate with cobalt and the high – throughput screening in the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for the Cu(CH3COO)2.H2O – NIPA – heterocyclic ligand systems are presented. In chapter 4, the single crystal to single crystal transformation with temperature dependent dimensionality cross-over and structural reorganizations in two copper based compounds of 5-sulfoisopphthalate and 5-nitroisophthalate are presented. In chapter 5, the site selective substitution in a homometallic MOF compound and its subsequent decomposition to mixed-metal spinel oxides are presented.

The research in the area of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) continues to be interesting for their unique structures and tunable properties. In this thesis, the various aspects of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) compounds are presented. As part of this study, preparation of MOFs of transition metals (Mn, Co, Ni, Zn), rare-earth metals (Y, La, Pr, Nd, Gd, Dy) and mixed metals (3d-4f) using aromatic carboxylates as linker ligands were accomplished. Structures of the synthesized compounds have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Magnetic properties of the transition metal based compounds have been studied by SQUID magnetometer and the magnetic behaviors have been correlated with their structures using suitable theoretical model. Photocatalytic properties on transition metal and mixed metal compounds have been investigated. Ligand-sensitized metal-center emission has been studied on the Eu3+ and Tb3+ doped MOF compounds of La and Y. Up-conversion luminescence properties of Nd based compounds have also been studied. To gain an insight into the possible mechanism of the formation of MOF compounds, a detailed study of the role of temperature and time during the synthesis has been undertaken. In addition, the transformations of low-dimensional structures to structures of higher dimensionality was also studied, both in the solid state as well as in the solution mediated processes. In Chapter 1 of the thesis an overview of framework compounds is presented. In Chapter 2, the synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of benzene tricaboxylate and 4,4’-oxybis(benzoate) compounds of 3d metals are presented. Some of these compounds show unusual structure and interesting magnetic properties. For example, three-dimensional MOF with -Mn-O-Mn- Kagome layer exhibits canted antiferromagntic behavior. Three-dimensional MOF based on body centered arrangement of Co4 clusters shows two-dimensional ferromagnetic behavior. In Chapter 3, the role of temperature and time of reaction in the formation of MOF compounds and the transformation studies are presented. These studies give a clue regarding the mechanism for the synthesis of MOF compound. In chapter 4, synthesis, structure and luminescent properties of rare-earth and 3d-4f mixed metal compounds are presented. The thermal decomposition of Gd-Co-pyridine carboxylate indicates the formation of nano-sized perovskite oxide at temperature ~ 700 °C. In chapter 5, the photocatalytic behavior for the decomposition of organic dyes using MOF compounds are presented.