My arcane and curious connection to metal-organic frameworks

The discovery of metal-organic frameworks has been recognised with the 2025 Nobel prize in chemistry. I was delighted when the decision was announced, and immediately started texting tons of friends in the field. I never worked with MOFs in the lab, however I feel strangely connected to the famous family of porous materials – maybe because of a little-known reference in the literature, dating back to 1973.