# CTF-1: triazine frameworks from molten salt

> Covalent triazine frameworks are made without any condensation water: aromatic nitriles trimerize into triazine rings in molten zinc chloride at 400 °C, the salt serving as solvent and catalyst. 1,4-Dicyanobenzene gives CTF-1, layers of triazine rings joined by phenylene that can come out ordered or amorphous. The products are microporous, high-performance polymers with very large surface areas, suited to gas storage, sensing and catalyst supports.

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- Updated: 2026-10-14
- Category: Covalent organic frameworks
- Method: Ionothermal trimerization, bottom-up
- Starting materials: 1,4-Dicyanobenzene and ZnCl₂, in a sealed ampoule
- Product: CTF-1: triazine rings joined by phenylene, ordered (layered) or amorphous; microporous
- Key result: Ordered and amorphous microporous networks with very large surface areas (Kuhn et al. 2008)
- Figure: 1920 × 1080 px, 72 editable layers (7 generated objects with settings)

## Steps

1. **Ionothermal**: Nitrile and ZnCl₂ sealed together and heated to 400 °C: the salt melts and acts as solvent and catalyst
2. **Trimerization**: Three C≡N groups close a 1,3,5-triazine ring; no water or other by-product forms
3. **Work-up**: The solidified salt is washed out, leaving the porous network
4. **Network**: Triazine nodes joined by phenylene: hexagonal layers in the ordered material, a disordered network otherwise

## Strengths

- Very robust aromatic links
- Cheap monomers, simple set-up
- Nitrogen-rich: binds metals and CO₂

## Limitations

- Needs high temperature; hotter syntheses partly carbonize the network
- Often only partly crystalline

## Uses

- Gas storage
- Sensors
- Catalyst supports

## References

1. Kuhn, Antonietti & Thomas, “Porous, Covalent Triazine-Based Frameworks Prepared by Ionothermal Synthesis”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.200705710 (primary)
2. Geng et al., “Covalent Organic Frameworks: Design, Synthesis, and Functions”, Chem. Rev. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00550 (review)
3. Waller, Gándara & Yaghi, “Chemistry of Covalent Organic Frameworks”, Acc. Chem. Res. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.accounts.5b00369 (review)

Credit: After Kuhn, Antonietti & Thomas, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008 (doi:10.1002/anie.200705710) and Geng et al., Chem. Rev. 2020 (doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00550). Pattern computed from the layer model of the ordered form.

## Questions

**What does the “CTF-1: triazine frameworks from molten salt” template show?** Covalent triazine frameworks are made without any condensation water: aromatic nitriles trimerize into triazine rings in molten zinc chloride at 400 °C, the salt serving as solvent and catalyst. 1,4-Dicyanobenzene gives CTF-1, layers of triazine rings joined by phenylene that can come out ordered or amorphous. The products are microporous, high-performance polymers with very large surface areas, suited to gas storage, sensing and catalyst supports.

**What are the steps shown in “CTF-1: triazine frameworks from molten salt”?** 1. Ionothermal: Nitrile and ZnCl₂ sealed together and heated to 400 °C: the salt melts and acts as solvent and catalyst. 2. Trimerization: Three C≡N groups close a 1,3,5-triazine ring; no water or other by-product forms. 3. Work-up: The solidified salt is washed out, leaving the porous network. 4. Network: Triazine nodes joined by phenylene: hexagonal layers in the ordered material, a disordered network otherwise.

**What are the starting materials and the product?** Starting materials: 1,4-Dicyanobenzene and ZnCl₂, in a sealed ampoule. Product: CTF-1: triazine rings joined by phenylene, ordered (layered) or amorphous; microporous.

**Which papers is “CTF-1: triazine frameworks from molten salt” based on?** Kuhn, Antonietti & Thomas, “Porous, Covalent Triazine-Based Frameworks Prepared by Ionothermal Synthesis”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008 (doi:10.1002/anie.200705710); Geng et al., “Covalent Organic Frameworks: Design, Synthesis, and Functions”, Chem. Rev. 2020 (doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00550); Waller, Gándara & Yaghi, “Chemistry of Covalent Organic Frameworks”, Acc. Chem. Res. 2015 (doi:10.1021/acs.accounts.5b00369).

**Can I edit the “CTF-1: triazine frameworks from molten salt” template?** Yes. Open it in the LabCanvas editor: all 72 layers are editable, including 7 generated objects (structures, plots, equipment) with their own settings. Change the text, colours and layout, then export PNG, TIFF, SVG or PDF.

**Do I need an account to use this template?** Not to view it here. To open and edit it, sign in to LabCanvas or create a free account (the free plan keeps one design of each kind). Downloading the figure is part of LabCanvas Pro (US$19 a month or US$199 a year).