Framework fragility upon the removal of guest solvent molecules has remained an issue for a substantial amount of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). To address this issue, in this work we illustrate a strategy for the introduction of size-matching ligands as braces that are deliberately anchored onto the open metal sites to support and segment the pores thereby boosting the framework robustness. This is exemplified by employing 4,4′-bipyridine as a brace to bridge two trigonal prismatic clusters of Co3(μ3-O)(COO)6, generating a robust MOF that exhibits permanent porosity and selective gas adsorption behaviors.
