DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restrictions
Claim 7 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected group II, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 3-5-2026.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 2-4,6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 2 recites “A porous multivariate metal-organic framework (MOF) of claim 1, wherein the mixture is in a ratio n/m=7/1, 6/3, 5/3, 4/4, 3/5, 2/6 or 1/7.”. There is a lack of antecedent basis for “the mixture is in a ratio n/m=7/1, 6/3, 5/3, 4/4, 3/5, 2/6 or 1/7” in previous claim limitations. Examiner notes claim 1 does not include a PZDCn or FDCm , wherein claim 1 specifically recites PZDC2- and FDC2-.
Claim 3 recites “A porous multivariate metal-organic framework (MOF) of claim 1, comprising AI(OH)PZDCr/FDCm; wherein n/m=7/1, 6/3, 5/3, 4/4, 3/5, 2/6 or 1/7.”. There is a lack of antecedent basis for “AI(OH)PZDCr/FDCm; wherein n/m=7/1, 6/3, 5/3, 4/4, 3/5, 2/6 or 1/7” in previous claim limitations. Examiner notes claim 1 does not include a PZDCn or FDCm , wherein claim 1 specifically recites PZDC2- and FDC2-.
Claim 4 recites “A porous metal-organic framework (MOF) comprising MOF-333: AI(OH)FDC, wherein FDC²⁻ = 2,4-furandicarboxylate.”. There is a lack of antecedent basis for “FDC²⁻ = 2,4-furandicarboxylate” in previous claim limitations. Examiner notes claim 4 recites MOF-333: AI(OH)FDC. Claim 6 depends on claim 4 and hence is also rejected.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 5 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Claim 1 recites “A porous multivariate metal-organic framework (MOF) comprising a mixture of PZDC²⁻ and FDC²⁻ within one MOF crystal, wherein PZDC²⁻ = 1-H-pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylate, FDC2 = 2,4- furandicarboxylate.”. Mulet et al(2022/0176344) teaches a porous metal organic framework including PZDC²⁻ = 1-H-pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylate (para 0058 stating “in particular embodiments, the water adsorbent metal organic framework comprises a porous aluminum based metal-organic framework (MOF) comprising inorganic aluminum chains linked via carboxylate groups of 1-H-pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylate (HPDC) linkers”). However Mulet et al does not teach or suggest a porous multivariate metal-organic framework (MOF) comprising a mixture of PZDC²⁻ and FDC²⁻ within one MOF crystal, wherein PZDC²⁻ = 1-H-pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylate, FDC2 = 2,4- furandicarboxylate. Claim 5 depends on claim 1 and hence is also allowed.
Claim 4 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Claim 4 recites “A porous metal-organic framework (MOF) comprising MOF-333: AI(OH)FDC, wherein FDC²⁻ = 2,4-furandicarboxylate.”. European Patent Application (EP 4410419 A1) teaches a porous metal organic framework including v-shaped linkers, wherein the v-shaped linkers include 1-H-pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylate and 2,4-furandicarboxylate(para 0005 lines 12-14). However European Patent Application (EP 4410419 A1) has an effective date of July 8, 2024, wherein the effective date does not predate the effective filing date of 8-12-2021 of the provisional application of the current application, therefore European Patent Application (EP 4410419 A1) is not a valid prior art reference.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT A HOPKINS whose telephone number is (571)272-1159. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs 6am-4pm.
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/ROBERT A HOPKINS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1776
March 26, 2026
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