Sustainable methods of synthesizing metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are of paramount importance to energy conservation efforts and environmental remediation. It can be a significant tool in the global campaign to avoid use of hazardous substances, such as metal ions, organic solvents, and complexes in metal–organic chemistry. MOFs with porosity and crystalline nature offer structural tunability via variation in metal node and organic linker that promote their wide applicability at both scientific and industrial level. Besides fascinating properties of MOFs, their real field applications are still limited due to adverse environmental impact of the conventional synthesis approaches. Considerable research efforts have been devoted to devising clean and sustainable synthesis routes for MOFs to reduce the environmental impact of their preparation. This review covers the design strategies for greener, more energy-efficient, and less-toxic MOF synthesis through application of 12 green chemistry principles. Attention is given to development of green and industrially acceptable MOF chemistry based on (i) safer solvent/or reaction media, (ii) sustainable metal ions, and (iii) biocompatible (i.e., biomolecule/biomass-derived) organic linkers. The versatile functionality, biodegradability, biocompatible nature, and high drug loading capacity of green MOFs are highly promising for environmental and medical applications. In this review, the recent update on applicability of green MOFs in catalysis, adsorption/separation processes, and therapeutics is highlighted. In the last section, outlook and future challenges are illustrated, keeping in view their disposal and health related concerns.

合成金属有机框架（MOF）的可持续方法对节能工作和环境修复至关重要。在避免使用有害物质（例如金属离子，有机溶剂和金属有机化学中的配合物）的全球运动中，它可能是重要的工具。具有孔隙率和晶体性质的MOF通过改变金属节点和有机连接基来提供结构可调性，从而促进了它们在科学和工业水平上的广泛应用。除了MOF令人着迷的特性外，由于常规合成方法对环境的不利影响，它们的实际应用仍然受到限制。为了降低MOF的制备对环境的影响，已经进行了大量的研究工作，为MOF设计了清洁，可持续的合成途径。这篇综述涵盖了通过应用12种绿色化学原理来实现更绿色，更节能和更低毒的MOF合成的设计策略。基于（i）更安全的溶剂/或反应介质，（ii）可持续的金属离子和（iii）生物相容性（即，生物分子/生物质衍生的）有机连接基，人们关注绿色和工业上可接受的MOF化学的开发。绿色MOF的通用功能，可生物降解性，生物相容性和高载药量对于环境和医学应用具有很高的前景。在这篇综述中，重点介绍了绿色MOF在催化，吸附/分离过程和治疗中的适用性的最新进展。在上一节中，说明了前景和未来挑战，同时考虑了其处置和与健康相关的问题。