Current research fields of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are being developed in the last 5-10 years by Russian scientific institutions and universities, are generalized. The review encompasses the design, synthesis, topological description, and prediction of MOF properties, the development of methods for their chemical engineering and modification, their investigation by modern physicochemical techniques, and the creation of functional materials based on porous frameworks (heterogeneous catalysts, highly efficient and highly selective sorbents of the new generation, conducting materials, systems for the target drug delivery).

Organometallic blue fluorescent Zn(II) Schiff base complexes are synthesized and explored computationally in order to use them in organic electroluminescent heterostructures. Characterization of these pyrazolone-based azomethine–zinc complexes was accomplished by various physicochemical techniques to get insight into their applicability as an active layer in light-emitting diodes. All the complexes demonstrate high thermal stability and remarkable photoluminescence both in solution and in the solid state with maximum in the blue region. Quantum chemical calculations of the first exited electronic state and vertical singlet–singlet electronic transitions by means of time-dependent density functional theory calculations and results show that the origin of the luminescence for the target complexes refers to the intraligand charge transfer within the Schiff bases. The constructed light-emitting diodes demonstrate low input voltage (3.2–4.0 V), brightness at a level of 4300–11,600 Cd m^–2, and external quantum efficiency of up to 3.2%, which is a good value for purely fluorescent organic light-emitting diodes.

Heterometallic carboxylate complexes are of paramount interest in pure and applied coordination chemistry. Despite that plurality of such type compounds have been published to date, synthetic aspects of their chemistry often remain in the shadow of intriguing physical properties manifesting by these species. Present review summarizes reliable data on direct synthesis of low nuclearity molecular compounds as well as coordination polymers on their base with carboxylate-bridged {M₂Mg} (M = Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺), {M₂Li₂} (M = Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, VO²⁺), {M₂Ln₂} and {M₂Ln} (M = Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺) metal cores. Structural features and stabilization factors are considered and principal outcomes are confirmed by quantum-chemical calculations. Particular attention is paid to consideration of ligand-exchange reactions that allow controllable modification of heterometallic metal core under mild conditions giving diverse molecular complexes with modified ligand environment or Metal-Organic Frameworks with permanent porosity.

Rational synthesis of a series of new heterometallic MOFs was carried out by the judicious choice of the corresponding pivalate complexes [Li₂M₂(piv)₆(py)₂] (M = Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, piv⁻ = pivalate anion and py = pyridine) as a source of secondary building units, {LiM(O₂CR)₃} and an organic tricarboxylate linker as a node defining the dimensionality of the framework by the orientation of the carboxylic group in or out of the central aromatic ring plane. Thus the trimesate (btc³⁻) linker results in 3D srs topology frameworks with intersecting systems or isolated channels, and 1,3,5-benzenetribenzoate (btb³⁻) results in layered hcb isostructural compounds additionally stabilized with H–π interactions between the layers. The layered compounds demonstrate a permanent porosity with a BET surface area of up to 688 m²·g⁻¹ with the possibility of selective gas adsorption (CO₂ over N₂ and CH₄). Zn-Based coordination polymers show notable color changes and drastic (up to 30 times) quenching of luminescence upon inclusion of different nitroaromatics.