Sequestering Perrhenate with a Borate-Based Coordination Polymer: A Model for Pertechnetate Separation

Crystals of the layered metal organic framework solid Pb[B(Im)4](NO3)(nH2O) can undergo exchange of the nitrate for perrhenate, a model for pertechnetate, forming Pb[B(Im)4](ReO4). We can monitor this reaction by 207Pb solid-state NMR and can isolate single crystals of the resultant material through growth in the presence of an excess of perrhenate. Such a synthetic metal-organic framework solid represents a new candidate for pertechnetate-sequestering materials.