Reticular chemistry has been focused on making simple structures in which a few kinds of components are linked to make crystals such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). While this chemistry has grown into a large field, a more extensive area with fascinating directions is emerging through the introduction of multiplicity and variation into the components of MOFs. When the MOF backbone is composed of more than two kinds of components, the resulting backbone multiplicity is regular repeats of those units. However, when variations involve multiple functionalization of the organic linkers or multiple metalation of metal-containing building units, it results in an aperiodic spatial arrangement of these variations, without altering the regularity of the MOF backbone. Such variance is represented by unique sequences of functionality or metal, and the very aperiodic nature of their spatial arrangement gives rise to anisotropy. These MOF constructs represent a new form of matter in which the sequences of such units are bound to an ordered backbone, thus adding complexity to an otherwise simple system, while preserving its overall crystallinity. It’s worth noting that, when a molecule capable of either continuous or multistate anisotropic motion is integrated within a sequence in a MOF, the resulting property goes beyond what is possible in simple systems. We term this emerging area ‘anisotropic reticular chemistry’.

网状化学一直专注于制造简单的结构，其中将几种成分链接在一起以制造晶体，例如金属有机骨架（MOF）。尽管这种化学方法已经发展成为一个广阔的领域，但通过将多重性和变异性引入MOF的组成部分，正在出现具有引人入胜的方向的更广阔领域。当MOF主干由两种以上的成分组成时，得到的主干多重性就是这些单元的规则重复。但是，当变化涉及有机连接基的多个功能化或含金属的建筑单元的多个金属化时，会导致这些变化的非周期性空间排列，而不会更改MOF主链的规则性。这种差异由功能或金属的独特序列表示，并且其空间排列的非周期性性质引起了各向异性。这些MOF构造代表一种新的物质形式，其中这些单元的序列绑定到有序的主链上，从而在保持其总体结晶度的同时，为原本简单的系统增加了复杂性。值得注意的是，当能够连续或多态各向异性运动的分子整合到MOF的序列中时，所产生的特性将超出简单系统中的可能。我们将这一新兴领域称为“各向异性网状化学”。同时保留其总体结晶度。值得注意的是，当能够连续或多态各向异性运动的分子整合到MOF的序列中时，所产生的特性将超出简单系统中的可能。我们将这一新兴领域称为“各向异性网状化学”。同时保留其总体结晶度。值得注意的是，当能够连续或进行多态各向异性运动的分子整合到MOF的序列中时，所产生的特性超出了简单系统中的可能。我们将这一新兴领域称为“各向异性网状化学”。