Nickel complex oligomers with tunable length allow a fine control of the absorption bands from the UV to the NIR region.

Azacalix[n]arenes (ACAs) are lesser-known cousins of calix[n]arenes that contain amine bridges instead of methylene bridges, so they generally have higher flexibility due to enlarged cavities. Herein, we report a highly substituted cationic azacalix[4]arene-based covalent organic framework (ACA-COF) synthesized by the Zincke reaction under microwave irradiation. The current work is a rare example of a synthetic strategy that utilizes the chemical functionalization of an organic macrocycle to constrain its conformational flexibility and, thereby, produce an ordered material. Considering the ACA cavity dimensions, and the density and diversity of the polar groups in ACA-COF, we used it for adsorption of uric acid and creatinine, two major waste products generated during hemodialysis treatment in patients with renal failure. This type of application, which has the potential to save ∼400 L of water per patient per week, has only been recognized in the last decade, but could effectively address the problem of water scarcity in arid areas of the world. Rapid adsorption rates (up to k = 2191 g mg^-1 min^-1) were observed in our COF, exceeding reported values by several orders of magnitude.

On-surface synthesis under ultrahigh vacuum provides a promising strategy to control matter at the atomic level, with important implications for the design of new two-dimensional materials having remarkable electronic, magnetic, or catalytic properties. This strategy must address the problem of limited extension of the domains due to the irreversible nature of covalent bonds, which prevents the ripening of defects. We show here that extended materials can be produced by a controlled co-deposition process. In particular, co-deposition of quinoid zwitterion molecules with iron atoms on a Ag(111) surface held at 570 K allows the formation of micrometer-sized domains based on covalent coordination bonds. This work opens up the construction of micrometer-scale single-layer covalent coordination materials under vacuum conditions.