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.

The present thesis provides a systematic investigation of coordination polymers of 3d, rare-earth (4f) and main group element (Bi) using both rigid aromatic, flexible aliphatic linkers. Luminescent sensing behavior towards nitro aromatics, metal ions and ferroelectric behavior have been investigated using some of the prepared compounds. The possible usefulness of lone pair on the structure has been investigated using bismuth based coordination polymers. The thermal and optical behavior of lanthanide coordination polymers (Ce, Pr and Nd) have also been studied. Chapter 1 An Overview of Coordination Polymer (CP) Compounds This chapter presents a brief introduction to coordination polymer (CP) compounds. Starting from the brief historical background on coordination compounds, this chapter shed light on some earlier developments in this family of compounds by Yaghi, Robson and others. The usefulness of carboxylate and imidazolates in construction of some important coordination polymer compounds like MOF-5, HKUST-1, ZIFs, MIL-53, UiO-66, CD-MOF-1 etc has been described in detail along with its properties. The coordination polymers exhibit many important properties and some of the properties like sorption, separation, ionic conductivity, catalysis and ferroelectricity have been discussed briefly and summerized. Chapter 1 also provides the general synthetic and characterization approaches that have been employed during the present studies. Chapter 2 Part A: Adenine Based Coordination Polymers with Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acids This chapter presents the synthesis, structure and properties of four new coordination polymers [Zn4(C8H10O4)2.5(C5H4N5)3.2H2O].7H2O.2DMA (I), [Cd3(C8H10O4)2(C5H4N5)2.H2O] (II), [Cd(C8H11O4)2(C5H5N5)2.2H2O] (III), [Cd(C8H10O4)(C7H8N5O).H2O]. 4H2O (IV), (CHDA = cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, ad = adenine, DMA = dimethylacetamide, 9-HEA = 9-hydroxyethyl adenine). The compound I and II forms three-dimensional structure having distinct arrangements of 1,4-CHDA and adenine units with Zn and Cd metals respectively. The molecular complex unit is observed in compound III with 1,2-CHDA and adenine. Compound IV forms two-dimensional structure with 9-HEA and 1,2-CHDA. The observation of base-pairing interactions in the above compounds is noteworthy. In compounds I, II and IV amino groups are appears to be free and utilized for the detection of nitro aromatic explosives through fluorescence quenching. The results revealed that the emission behavior of the present compounds is greatly influenced by the hydroxyl nitroaromatic analyses like indophenol, dinitrophenyl and trinitrophenols with very low detection limits. The compound I also exhibits considerable sensitivity towards metal ion detection, especially Fe2+/Fe3+, Cr3+, Ag+ and Hg2+ ions in solution. The presence of free nitrogen sites in compound II has been explored for the base catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation reaction, the quantitative yields are observed with various aldehyde substrates. Part B: Adenine Based Coordination Polymer with Oxydiacetic acid: [Cd2(C4H4O5)2(C5H5N5)].H2O.DMA The synthesis, structure and properties of a Cd based coordination polymer with oxydiacetic acid and adenine, [Cd2(C4H4O5)2(C5H5N5)].H2O. DMA is described. The compound has a two-dimensional structure formed by the connectivity involving Cd and oxydiacetic acid. The adenine ligand binds with the Cd metal center through the pyrimidine nitrogen and hangs in the inter layer spaces. The layers are stacked in a ABAB.... fashion and the inter layer spaces occupied by the dimethyl amine and water molecules. The water molecules are very labile and its removal can be accomplished by heating the sample at 100°C, which is also confirmed by the single crystal XRD, PXRD and IR studies. The availability of free amino groups of adenine molecule has been utilized for the detection of nitroaromatics, especially nitrophenols with good sensitivity. The amino group was also found to be useful in catalyzing Knoevenagel condensation reactions. Chapter 3: Rare-Earth Metal Carboxylates: Ln2(µ3-OH)(C4H4O5)2(C4H2O4)].2H2O [Ln=Ce, Pr and Nd] This chapter describes synthesis, structure and properties of series of rare-earth based compounds, [Ln2(µ3-OH)(C4H4O5)2(C4H2O4)].2H2O (Ln = Ce, Pr and Nd). The malic acid and fumaric acid form part of the structure. The lanthanide centers are connected by the malate units to form a two dimensional layers, which are pillared by fumarate units forming the three-dimensional structure. Overall, structure can be described as I2O1 type inorganic in two-dimension (Ln-O-Ln layers) and organic in one dimension. The extra framework water molecules form a dimer and occupy the channels. The robustness of the framework was reflected in terms of facile removal and reinsertion of the water molecules, which is also confirmed by single crystal XRD, variable temperature IR and cyclic TGA study. The presence of water dimers and weakly interacting water chain suggested the possibility of proton migration in these compounds. Proton conductivity studies reveal the conductivity values of ~2.85 x 10-6 Ω-1cm-1 at 98% relative humidity. The optical studies revealed an up-conversion behavior involving more than one photon for the neodymium compound. Chapter 4: Bismuth Carboxylates with Brucite and Fluorite Related Structures The synthesis, structure and properties of three new bismuth based coordination polymers have been described in this chapter. The compounds [C4N2H10][Bi(C7H4NO4)(C7H3NO4)].H2O (I), [Bi(C5H3N2O4) (C5H2N2O4)] (II) and [Bi(µ2-OH)(C7H3NO4)] (III) were isolated employing hydrothermal condition with three different heterocyclicdicarboxylic acids, 3,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, 4,5-imidazoledicarboxylic acid and 3,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid respectively. The structures of all the compounds have linkages between Bi2O2 and the corresponding dicarboxylate forming a simple molecular unit in I, a bilayer arrangement in II and a three-dimensional extended structure in III. The topological arrangement of the nodal building units in the structures resembles brucite related layers in II and fluorite related arrangement in compound III. By utilizing the secondary interactions, the structure of III can be correlated to a Kagome related net. The observation of such classical inorganic related structures in the bismuth carboxylates is noteworthy. Heterogeneous catalytic studies indicate Lewis acidic nature in the bismuth center in all three compounds. Chapter 5: Solvent dependent Delamination, Restacking and Ferroelectric studies in a Two-Dimensional Compound [NH4][Ag3(C9H5NO4S)2(C13H14N2)2].8H2O This chapter describes synthesis, structure, water dependent delamination/restacking and ferroelectric behavior in a layered coordination polymer compound, [NH4][Ag3(C9H5NO4S)2(C13H14N2)2].8H2O. The compound has a two-dimensional structure with the water molecules occupying the inter-lamellar spaces. The lattice water molecules can be fully removed and reinserted, which accompany the crystalline-amorphous-crystalline transformation. This transformation resembles the collapse/delamination and re-stacking of the layers. This transformation has also been investigated by in-situ IR and PXRD studies. The presence of a natural dipole (anionic framework and cationic ammonium ions) along with the non-centrosymmetric space group gives rise to a room-temperature ferroelectric behavior to the compound with saturation polarization (Ps) of 1.95 μC/cm2 and remnant polarization of 0.63 μC/cm2. The temperature dependent dielectric measurements indicate that the ferroelectric-paraelectric transformation occurs at 320 K. The ferroelectric-paraelectric transformation also follows the crystalline-amorphous-crystalline transitions.