Extended metal-carbohydrate frameworks

Abstract

Cyclodextrins (CDs) - A family of cyclic oligosaccharides - Are ideal building blocks for the construction of environmentally benign materials. Herein, we reflect upon the serendipitous discovery of two classes of extended crystalline materials - referred to as cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) and CD-Bamboo - based on CDs which offer opportunities for potential applications in the world of industry and commerce all the way from sequestering carbon dioxide to extracting gold in an eco-friendly manner. The crucial role of serendipity in scientific research expresses itself two times over at the boundaries between coordination chemistry with materials science.