Bridging Concept and Practice: An Intuitive Undergraduate Laboratory Course Based on Green Scalable Synthesis of a Bioderived Cu-MOF

Bridging the gap between theory and practice remains a perennial dilemma in chemistry instruction. While authentic cases enable the tangible application of textbook knowledge, their overly intricate nature imposes prohibitive scientific and technical obstacles, making them difficult to reconcile with the limited resources and tight schedules typical of undergraduate courses. Herein, it is revealed that the green and scalable production of MOFs, which is a pressing demand in the field, can effectively address this conundrum. Utilizing a water-predominated solvent and bioderived ligands, the ecofriendly synthesis of BUT-321, a Cu-MOF with superior greenhouse gas capture capabilities, proceeds with distinct color evolution. Such visually intuitive and engaging phenomena allow students to simultaneously internalize and apply basic principles of green chemistry, coordination chemistry, and crystallography. Furthermore, the hands-on exercise of kilogram-scale synthesis, guided by a ternary phase diagram, exemplifies a typical industrial scale-up procedure while fostering practical insights among undergraduates. Collectively, this laboratory experiment fuses critical industrial priorities and frontier research outcomes with fundamental chemistry knowledge, delivering a multifaceted yet straightforward course for impactful chemistry education.