Alex J. Stirk

I got accepted for a PhD in his group in 2012. I chose Canada instead. I often wonder what it would have been like to have accepted that offer.

Applying reticular synthesis to the design of Cu-based MOFs with mechanically interlocked linkers - Nano Research The concept of “robust dynamics” describes the incorporation of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) into metal-organic framework (MOF) materials such that large amplitude motions (e.g., rotation or translation of a macrocycle) can occur inside the free volume pore of the MOF. To aid in the preparation of such materials, reticular synthesis was used herein to design rigid molecular building blocks with predetermined ordered structures starting from the well-known MOF NOTT-101. New linkers were synthesized that have a T-shape, based on a triphenylene tetra-carboxylate strut, and their incorporation into Cu(II)-based MOFs was investigated. The single-crystal structures of three new MOFs, UWCM-12 (fof), β-UWCM-13 (loz), UWCM-14 (lil), with naked T-shaped linkers were determined; β-UWCM-13 is the first reported example of the loz topology. A fourth MOF, UWDM-14 (lil) is analogous to UWCM-14 (lil) but contains a [2]rotaxane linker. Variable-temperature, 2H solid-state NMR was used to probe the dynamics of a 24-membered macrocycle threaded onto the MOF skeleton.

Both MOFs and MORFs in this one!

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Designed layer assembly: a three-dimensional framework with 74% extra-framework volume by connection of infinite two-dimensional sheets A coordination polymer with 74% extra-framework volume is prepared by predictable linking of the honeycomb network to generate a framework-structured solid designed with two distinct connecting ligand...

If you work in MOFs, repost or reply to this with a link to your first MOF paper. We all started out in this amazing field somewhere. Mine is below. #mofs #chemsky #chemistrynobel #chemnobel2025 #Nobelprize
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

Link to the deposited structure that I'm pretty sure these were from (it's been a while!)

www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/structures/S...

Useful practices in single crystal diffraction analysis of reticular structures Single crystal diffraction analysis remains the gold standard for the three-dimensional atomic structure characterization of framework materials such as metal–organic frameworks, covalent organic fram...

My tutorial review on single crystal diffraction analysis is now online @crystengcomm.rsc.org! Students, supervisors, and reviewers: Please consider this thought-provoking read to discover many facets of the crystallographic practice that are often overlooked or misunderstood 💎 #crystallography

2025 chemistry Nobel prize goes to the scientists behind metal–organic frameworks Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi take top prize for discovery and development of versatile materials with a huge surface area

Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi are this year's winners of the Nobel prize in chemistry for their work on MOFs – just a few grams of these materials can have the same surface area as a football pitch. Julia Robinson with the details.

We have always been at war with coordination polymers.

They can be really pretty! Here's one that's a metal-organic rotaxane framework!

Stop DM'ing me for grant money. I don't have any.

Come on guys. I need this.

I wish to be referred to as Dr. Alex "Double Nobel" Stirk from now on. Please respect that.

Yeeesss!!! Since many Loeb group PhDs mixed rotaxanes with MOFs I therefore claim double Nobel status and should be treated as such. You're very welcome.

Ok, I know I'm really liking my new board, but I'm not sure it has an outboard motor.

An aperiodic tiling formed by the intersection of two square tilings of squares, one tilted by 43° with respect to the other. Many shapes are visible, diamonds, triangles, irregular octagons, and many other.

In case someone was wondering about the origin of those frequences... 😌 I admit this is pretty challenging to decipher in terms of real-space to reciprocal-space relationship, without knowing know how it is made. #FourierTransform #Crystallography #Braggyourpattern

Taken me so long to get to this point of owning my own board, but it's here! Torq 9'1". All waxed and ready to go on its maiden voyage!

TIL that you can get hydrochloric acid like this. I have no idea why we bought this. It’s giving boxed wine / to-go vibes.

To all of those going to ICCOSS '25. Just know that I'm extremely jealous and dying of envy.
I hope none of your projector adaptors work and they reschedule it to a more convenient date for me.

New Stirk just dropped. She's so little! Mom is doing great. Looking forward to taking a break from chemistry for a little bit!

🔗Medieval Chainmail meets Modern Materials! Our 2D [c2]daisy chain polymer (think: molecular-scale armor!) self-assembles into chainmail-like networks, achieving shape-shifting superpowers under stimuli.
⚡️ Breakthrough for soft robotics & smart textiles! #MaterialsScience
👉https://rdcu.be/ehOa6

This is great work. Some in the Loeb group back between 2013-2017 were trying ever so hard to get reliable daisy chains to work. It mostly the imidazole templating route. There's an MSc thesis from 2015 that a lot of work was done on this. Glad to see that daisy chains are sill of interest!

Cursed chemdraw.

I miss this field a lot.😞

Molecular machines won a Nobel prize nine years ago, but we still can’t decide what one is World authority on chemistry nomenclature aims to clean up molecular machine terminology

www.chemistryworld.com/news/molecul...

So far, so good. I had it on the maximum 650 rpm with two 3 mm balls and no breakages. I broke one vial though when I stuffed in 10 × 3 mm to see what the limit would be.

Het. An adaptor for a planetary mill! Retsch now sells them. Pretty cool!

Not if you have a high throughout system. Just using normal HPLC vials in an adaptor.

SUMMONING #Mechanochemistry

I saw one reported as "a speed equivalent to a shaking frequency of 10 Hz.". Which converts to 600 rpm. The limit on my mill is 650 rpm, so that seems very high!

Anyone else use a planetary mill for cocrystals?
I'm seeing a wide range of rpm/solvent volume/ball loadings. Anyone have a magic combination?