Metal-organic frameworks with exceptionally large pore aperatures

1. A composition comprising a pharmaceutically active agent and a MOF or IRMOF comprising the general structure M-L-M, wherein M comprises a metal and L is a linking moiety of Formula I:

wherein,

A 1 -A 8 are independently either N or C;

X 1 and X 2 are functional groups (FG);

R 1 -R 12 are independently selected from the group comprising H, FG, (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl, substituted (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 12 )alkenyl, substituted (C 1 -C 12 )alkenyl, (C 1 -C 12 )alkynyl, substituted (C 1 -C 12 )alkynyl, hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkyl, substituted hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkyl, hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkenyl, substituted hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkenyl, hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkynyl, substituted hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkynyl, (C 1 -C 12 )cycloalkyl, substituted (C 1 -C 12 )cycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle, —C(R 13 ) 3 , —CH(R 13 ) 2 , —CH 2 R 13 , —C(R 13 ) 3 , —CH(R 14 ) 2 , —CH 2 R 14 , —OC(R 13 ) 3 , —OCH(R 13 ) 2 , —OCH 2 R 14 , —OC(R 14 ) 3 , —OCH(R 14 ) 2 , —OCH 2 (R 14 ),

wherein R 1 and R 2 are linked together to form a substituted or unsubstituted ring selected from the group comprising cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocycle, and wherein R 3 and R 4 are linked together to form a substituted or unsubstituted ring selected from the group comprising cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocycle;

R 13 is selected from the group comprising FG, (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 12 )substituted alkyl, (C 1 -C 12 )alkenyl, substituted (C 1 -C 12 )alkenyl, (C 1 -C 12 )alkynyl, substituted (C 1 -C 12 )alkynyl, hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkyl, substituted hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkyl, hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkenyl, substituted hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkenyl, hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkynyl, substituted hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkynyl, hemiacetal, hemiketal, acetal, ketal, and orthoester;

R 14 is one or more substituted or unsubstituted rings selected from the group comprising cycloalkyl, aryl, and heterocycle;

y is a number from 0 to 3;

z is a number from 0 to 20; and

with the proviso that R is absent when bound to an A that is N; and

wherein the pharmaceutically active agent is located with pores of the MOF or IRMOF.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein M is either a transition metal or an alkaline earth metal.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein M is either Mg or Zn.

4. The composition of claim 3 , wherein X 1 and X 2 are carboxylic acids.

5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein A 1 -A 8 are C.

6. The composition of claim 5 , wherein

R 1 and R 10 are hydroxyls;

R 2 -R 5 , R 7 , R 9 , R 11 and R 12 are hydrogen; and

R 6 and R 8 are selected from the group consisting of (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl, (C 1 -C 12 )alkenyl, substituted (C 1 -C 12 )alkenyl, (C 1 -C 12 )alkynyl, substituted (C 1 -C 12 )alkynyl, hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkyl, substituted hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkyl, hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkenyl, substituted hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkenyl, hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkynyl, and substituted hetero-(C 1 -C 12 )alkynyl.

7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein

R 6 and R 8 are (C 1 -C 6 )alkyls.

8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein z is a number from 1 to 15.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the MOF or IRMOF further comprises a post-framework reactant.

10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the post-framework reactant decreases the hydrophobicity of the framework.

11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein at least one linking moiety comprises Formula I(a):

12. A composition comprising a pharmaceutically active agent and a MOF or IRMOF having the general structure M-L-M, wherein the pharmaceutically active agent is present in pores of the MOF or IRMOF, wherein M comprises a metal and L is a linking moiety, and wherein at least one linking moiety comprises Formula IV(a):

13. A composition comprising a pharmaceutically active agent and a MOF or IRMOF having the general structure M-L-M, wherein the pharmaceutically active agent is present in pores of the MOF or IRMOF, wherein M comprises a metal and L is a linking moiety, and wherein at least one linking moiety comprises Formula IV(b):

wherein, y is a number from 0 to 20.

14. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically active agent is selected from the group consisting of a protein, a drug and a gas.

15. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutically active agent is selected from the group consisting of a protein, a drug and a gas.

16. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the pharmaceutically active agent is selected from the group consisting of a protein, a drug and a gas.