Flexible and Responsive Nature of 2D Layered Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks Determine Their Catalytic Activity in Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane

A multi-faceted approach is introduced for investigating the effects of intrinsic and guest(water)-induced structural transformations/deformations and heterogeneity on catalytic activity of the 2D π-stacked layered Co3(HTTP)2, HTTP = hexathiotriphenylene, metal-organic framework. Through comprehensive molecular dynamics simulations coupled with periodic and cluster electronic structure calculations, we uncover a complex array of catalytically active sites in 2D Co3(HTTP)2 MOF which would have been entirely missed if conventional static electronic structure methods were to be employed.