On-Demand Degradation of Metal−Organic Framework Based on Photocleavable Dianthracene-Based Ligand

We have designed a rigid photocleavable dianthracene-based ligand that reacts with ytterbium as
coordination metal ion for the creation of a class of tridimensional light-degradable metal−organic framework
(MOF). We demonstrated that we can obtain a high level of control on the disassembly of the MOF formed with this
ligand which can be triggered either through light irradiation or temperature increase. The reversible 4π-4π photodimerization
is the intrinsic chemical mechanism ruling the ligand and MOF cleavage. In the fields of biology and medicine, MOFs
have sparked a strong interest as highly porous vehicles for drug release but have only been explored so far through the passive
leakage of their payloads. The designed light-degradable MOFs can potentially overcome this limitation and serve as prototypes
for drug delivery and corresponding therapeutic applications.